The Flame

Mid March 2003

All Souls Unitarian Universalist Church of Kansas City, Missouri

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Good News Celebrations

:-) *Classical Grapes was a hit. Brad Cox, our pianist and Music Director, was wonderful.

:-) *Brad Cox was mentioned on KCUR as one of the most accomplished and creative new composers in the United States. Way to go Brad!

:-) *Fifty enthusiastic volunteers are involved in making our pledge drive a success, under Dick King’s leadership.

:-) *Jim Mitchell inspired the pledge volunteers with his witty and wise training.

:-) *Addie Dietrich organized our most successful used book sale ever; it netted over $2000.

:-) *We look forward to welcoming Rev. Bill Sinkford, the President of the Unitarian Universalist Association, to our pulpit on May 11. He will celebrate the culmination of the UUA ad campaign. It is an honor to have him here, and it will be our privilege to hear Bill preach.

:-) *We look forward to having well-known environmentalist Wes Jackson speak at the Forum on April 13.

Service Schedule 8:45 am and 11:15 am

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.

March 23 : Grace and Grit - Flower Communion Sunday Melissa Mummert

How can we dedicate a service to flowers when war may be on the horizon? We will explore the art of living in dynamic tension, attending to both life's unthinkable ugliness AND its sweet beauty. We invite each person attending the service (yes, children are people too) to bring a cut flower to share with the community.

March 30: Lincoln Speaks to Our time Jim Mitchell

Sharing Lincoln’s wit and wisdom in a time of national crisis.

Forum Schedule 10:00 am

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.

Mar. 23 Oscar Sunday Robert Butler

The movie editor for the Kansas City Star, will present his annual Forum on the Academy Awards. Join in discussing the best of 2002 and voting for your picks for Oscars.

Mar. 30 Advocacy Lessons Learned in the Fight for Reproductive Rights Erika Fox

The recently retired Vice President for Public Policy at Planned Parenthood of Kansas and Mid-Missouri will offer guidelines for advocacy applicable to a variety of issues, based on her own legislative and related experiences.

Minister’s Considerations: Dual Role Relationships/What Hat Are you Wearing?

Managing dual or multiple role relationships is difficult for anyone. If you are both a father and the coach of your daughter’s softball team, you’re in for a challenge. If you give a contract to a best friend, you invite suspicion and risk the friendship. Some people seem to know these subtleties automatically and others just don’t see the problem. I start from the point of view that these relationships are automatically a problem and if we to help them succeed, it requires that we be doubly intentional.

Some people make policies against allowing them. I received an email from another church outlining why members could not be staff. They were recommending that this be the policy of their church, and were seeking feedback from other UU churches.

I understand the wisdom of this perspective, but we do not have such a policy, nor would I encourage us. I think that a balance of member and non-member staffing is helpful. I can hardly imagine someone directing any of our Life Span Religious Education departments without being a UU. The majority of UUs in Kansas City are members here. We would certainly limit ourselves by insisting that all staff be non-members.

We do have a number of our staff who are members here. I suggested to our staff that we wear different colored hats. So, if someone thinks we are working, when we are attempting to just be a participant, they will know the difference. If Terry Wiggins or Ted Otteson attend a musical event, should they automatically be assumed to be the one to lock up afterward? If you run out of programs for a larger than expected attendance, should they be the ones to make additional programs? If they are there wearing their staff hat, then maybe, or even probably. But if these dual role staff/members are there as members, then “No.”

No we do not have “hats of differing color,” but we have made up new name badges for the staff. One will say, Staff Member, here as Staff to Serve you. There other says, Name of Staff/Member, here as a Member. This may seem over drawn, but it will help us manage potential miscommunication. The more intentional we are, the more it will benefit everyone.

Lifespan Religious Education

Sunday School Update

Bird feeders and a banner were the focal points in a recent art lesson with Kathy Burns. Carri Bader’s lesson designed in the game show motif was a hit. The rocking chair in the PreK/K room is getting a work out along with the Disney Candy Land game (donated by Tina & Jeff Merritt when they returned from vacation). In the weeks to come watch for projects around the seventh principle prepared by Ellie Dawson. The LRE Curriculum Committee has chosen Peace and Social Justice as the theme for the next Sunday school academic year. Just a reminder, Sunday school registration is free. Forms are available in the LRE office.

Book discussions ahead

1) Ahmed El-Sherif of the American Muslim Council will join Diann Spencer dspencer@kc.rr.com for discussions inspired by the book, Islam: A Short History, by Karen Armstrong, 7-9pm Mondays starting Mar 17 for 3 sessions. Come even if you haven’t finished the book. Bring a friend.

2) Sacred Choices: The Right to Contraception and Abortion in Ten World Religions, by Dr. Daniel C. Maguire, will be discussed 7-9pm Thursdays, Mar. 13 & 20, with Jill Jarvis jjarvis1@kc.rr.com. Daniel C. Maguire will speak in Kansas City on April 10, sponsored by Planned Parenthood. He is a Professor of Moral Theological Ethics at Marquette University, a Jesuit institution.

3) Read now, discuss in April -- Being Liberal in an Illiberal Age by Jack Mendelsohn and Walden by Henry David Thoreau.

LRE Wish List

1) Easter Candy
2) Easter prizes
3) Easter Nerf balls.

Volunteer Opportunities in Lifespan Religious Education

There’s a place for everyone in LRE. Call the LRE office for more information.

1) Sitters at the LRE table in Conover Sunday mornings.
2) T-shirt sellers.

Hear Hear

Harry Potter Book 5 will be sold at church one minute after midnight June 21. Add your name to the many names already on the registration form hanging on a clipboard in the hallway near the water fountains. Plans are forming now. If you weren’t with us for our Harry Potter party in the fall of 2001, then set aside some time and ask someone who was. The scope of the fun was just too big to summarize here.

Salsa, Yum

Salsa Cooking, a lesson with Chef Mike, will be Thursday, April 24 at 6:30, $15 supply fee. As always with Chef Mike’s class, we provide all ingredients required (but if you can, bring your own knife) and we’ll eat the finished project.

View Askew Movie Fest

Jay and Silent Bob will be the center of discussion as we take a look at the early work of Kevin Smith and eat popcorn. March 21 at 7; March 22 at 1; March 28 at 7; March 29 at 1.

College Age?

Connect with other UU young adults at uua.org. To connect with All Souls Post Modern Marvels go to http://lists.uuyan.org/listinfo/pmm-asuuckc

Play Chess

Chess Club meets at 12:15pm Sunday, March 23. People of all ages and all skill levels are invited.

In High School?

YRUU is the name of our youth group. Plans are under way for some trips and overnights. Come to YRUU on Sunday nights or call Dick Dawson or Allison Hartnett for more information.

Evensong

Eight Thursdays starting March 27, 7-9pm, this classic UU adult program allows participants to look at their lives and find liberal religious means for centering. This class will be facilitated by Jill Jarvis and Chloe Mason Seagrove. Sign up on the clipboard near the water fountain.

Food and new friends

There’s no finer way to meet and greet than when we gather to eat. Ok, that’s a bit corny, but seriously, fish stories to theological debates take on a whole new flavor over a plate at All Souls. Take a bite out of life and give one a try every Thursday at 11:30, Members Lunch, $6; every Wednesdays at 5:30, Wednesday night dinners, $6; Second Sundays each month at 12:15pm Sunday Plus Lunch, $6 adult, $3 kids, max. per family $18.

Ministry Circles

New member? Long time friend? Consider finding a new depth to your church life in a Small Group Ministry, Ministry Circle. Registration and information are available on the bulletin board near the water fountain.

Other Church News

Exploring membership?

Would you like to meet other people who are new to the Kansas City area, or to All Souls, or to Unitarian Universalism? Want to meet some long-time members of All Souls? Would you like to learn more about the history of All Souls or of Unitarian Universalism?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, we encourage you to come to our orientation class. The next class will be held on five Sunday mornings from 10-11am, starting March 30. Please sign up on the clipboard on the Church Events bulletin board, by the water fountain. Free child care is available on request for this class. - Terry Wiggins, Membership Administrator

Advertising Update

Five more events will be advertised on the radio as part of the UUA's media campaign. These are:
—March 30 - Empty Bowls Project, family-oriented benefit with proceeds to go to Harvesters, held at Shawnee Mission Unitarian Universalist Church;
—April 12 - Eldar - Russian pianist, at Shawnee Mission Unitarian Universalist Church;
—April 13 --Wes Jackson, internationally-renowned environmentalist and founder of The Land Institute in Salina, Kansas, at All Souls Forum
—April 15 - Bill Schulz, president of Amnesty International, at the University of Kansas in Lawrence;
—May 11 - Bill Sinkford, president of the UUA, preaching at All Souls.

Other advertised events were the Commercial Closet program, which was part of the national Interweave Convo for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transsexual UUs and friends held at All Souls on February 14, and Sharon Welch and Bobby Watson, social ethicist and jazz musician on March 6, which was part of the national Midsize Church Conference. It's a range of events that well reflect Unitarian Universalist values and activities.

The billboards were moved in early March, and are now located in the following places: northbound lane of I-70 at Tracy, facing south; east lane of Southwest Trafficway at 39th Street, facing north; southbound lane of I-35 near Cambridge Circle, facing west; westbound lane of I-35 south of 75th Street, facing north; Broadway north of the Broadway Bridge, on east side facing north; west lane of 71 Highway at Vine, facing south.

Also, look for our joint ad in the Saturday "Faith" section of the Kansas City Star. We're also exploring the possibility of a special eight-page tabloid section for the Star, which depends on our members and friends' interest in buying ads. For those of you who are advocates of advertising in other local publications, please bear in mind that the current campaign effort is for the metropolitan area and we're looking for broad coverage, not just an All Souls targeted market.

Please let me know if you have questions or comments. Sharon Blevins, All Souls Media Campaign Coordinator, chlover333@aol.com.

World hunger alert

At 7:30pm April 14, James T. Morris, executive director of the United Nations World Food Programme and U.N. General Secretary Kofi Anan's Special Envoy on Humanitarian Needs in Southern Africa, will address the Greater Kansas City community on the pressing need for governments and individuals to increase support for world food aid initiatives. The UU United Nations Office is pleased to announce that this occasion will be at All Souls.

Garage Sales as Recycling

So you believe in saving the environment. And you want to start simplifying your life. And you want to support your church.

The April church garage sale wants all that stuff now. Put April 11 & 12 on your calendar for lots of bargains on stuff to replace the stuff you are donating.

You may bring your contributions to the church whenever you come to events at the church. The staff can check out a key to you and you unload your items directly into the storage unit at the back end of the church parking lot. It will be open every Sunday.

If you need help moving or unloading items, contact Walt Wells in advance.

And we still have lots of opportunities for you to move things (do you have a truck?), sort things (do you have a specialty?), or just be at the sale to assist shoppers. - Walt Wells

Habitat For Humanity - Harmony House

We are building [with 12 other congregations] again this year, a new home for a family who needs it.

Habit for Humanity is a worldwide activity to build quality new homes for families who need them. All Souls has been part of a multi-faith Harmony House project for over 12 years and members of the congregation have assisted in building or repairing more than 50 houses, including at least one new house from the ground up, every year.

Construction begins on the first Saturday in April for the experienced framers.

We have several later dates where our 5 or 6 volunteers will be working with volunteers from 2 or 3 other churches. And we will be expected to provide lunch at least one Saturday.

A sign-up sheet will appear at the church for the specific dates. If you have questions, contact Walt Wells.

Convo a big success

The Interweave Convo held at All Souls the weekend of Valentines Day was a huge success. Attendees said that they would be measuring future Convos by “Kansas City” for some years to come. The National Interweave board of directors who attended were very impressed.

Success does not come easy. The event took many hours planning, negotiating and scheduling speakers. Those speakers were interesting, creative and informative.

Thanks to the All Souls Interweave committee, chaired by Carol von Ott, it all came together as a successful weekend. The committee consisted of Alex Westerfelt, Carolyn MacDonald, Kris and Lynn Cheatum, Claudine Thomas, Dick and Ellie Dawson, Scott England, Jim King, and Megan Monroe.

Our board treasurer, Bob Miller, helped by keeping us informed about registrations through our new Internet software to allow credit card payments via the Network for Good.

Many All Soulers donated time, food and energy. Thank you; we really are a Welcoming Congregation. - Claudine Thomas

All Souls CoffeeHouse music

*Every Thursday we have an open jam session. Bring your voice, instrument, and music. We share with each other.

*On the lst & 3rd Thursdays we have an Irish Slow Session.

*Friday, March 28, 7:30, p.m. at the All Souls CoffeeHouse ...just after the regular Service for the Soul. David Blyth, featured performer has been an occasional visitor and plays at Coffee Houses and other venues throughout the metro area. Following will be an open mic. This is music for the whole family. Along with pizza and other inexpensive food and drink, there will be table games and lots of conversation. Come be a part of the All Souls family. - Walt Wells

Want to play autoharp?

Do you want to learn to play the one that has been sitting in the closet? Do you want to hear others play or talk with people who like its sound? If you are interested contact Caron Wells or just show up between 1 and 5pm Saturday, March 29 at All Souls. - Walt Wells

They’re homeless no more

Three families are now calling reStart home, and more will be there soon. They're living in the space renovated with the money collected Christmas Eve, in cooperation with several other churches. That's real family values. (We provide and serve food to the hungry at reStart on third Sundays each month.) - Caron Wells

Spring plant sale near

Yes, it really will be spring soon. Your garden needs some tomatoes, oregano, basil. How about phlox and petunias? Get them at the sale April 13. And to make room for them, how about donating a few extra marigolds, the forsythia or raspberry that's taking over. If you're planning to donate, please call Caron. Or surprise us. All money goes to Kansas City Community Gardens for children's programs. - Caron Wells

Opportunity for Fun While Fundraising

WHO: 20 All Soulers, wearing white shirts/sweaters with black skirts/slacks.

WHAT: Form a team to usher for "Abduction from the Seraglio" at the Lyric Opera on Wednesday March 19th. This is a lively, comic masterpiece written by Mozart.

WHY: Our service earns $200 for ASUUC, and we get to sit down and enjoy this professional production free! It will be sung in German, with good super-titles in English.

WHERE: At the Lyric Theatre on 11th St., but we'll form carpools at 5:30 in the church parking lot, or you can drive yourself. (Street parking is free after 6.)

WHEN: Usher call is at 6pm, Wednesday March 19 for the 7:30 performance. This week is Spring Break for some local school districts and high schoolers are welcome to participate. Call Joan Olsen to sign up or ask questions.

Home help for older citizens

Getting spring fever already? Anxious to get out in the yard? Shepherd’s Center can help you put your anxiety to rest. Join other volunteers in participating in the tenth annual SpringThing, an April program for the Brookside-Waldo neighborhood to help older adults and homebound people spruce up their homes.

Community volunteers perform such tasks as changing accessible light bulbs, change furnace/kitchen filters, check/install smoke alarms, garage/basement cleaning, minor home repair, paint house numbers on curb, and yard cleanup (i.e., raking, trimming, flower beds, not lawn mowing).

If you know of any older or homebound person who could benefit, please call David Wood at 816-444-1121. We will send an application. If you wish to volunteer to assist in this worthwhile project, please call David. SpringThing will be conducted during April19-20 and April 26-27. An orientation will be held for volunteers on April 12 at 12pm.

Demeters scheduled March 18

Demeters will meet at 6pm Tuesday, March 18, in Simpson House. The potluck dinner event is for women interested in fellowship and service possibilities. For information call Jean Dunlap.

Denominational and District Information

PSD Conference April 4-6

The Prairie Star District Conference and Annual Meeting will be April 4-5 in Rochester, MN with a theme, "Congregations in Changing Times - 40 years in P.S.D." Brochures are posted.

All Souls’ budget contains no funds for delegate reimbursement, but by car-pooling and sharing rooms we can reduce some of the costs. Several from All Souls will present workshops. This year we will look over the occasion with an especially keen eye, since we will be hosting the next PSD conference in April 23-25, 2004.

Anne McCleery will be chair of local arrangements for that event, and we will have a host-city display in Rochester. Please contact Joan Olsen with your questions or requests for delegate status.

General Assembly June 26-30

The General Assembly of the UUA will be held in Boston June 26-30 and program materials are on-line: . The housing registration is open on-line and you need to respond to that promptly; the registration fees will go up May 1. Volunteers may agree to do 24 hours work in exchange for full registration. A lottery-style selection process determines which ones are accepted. Volunteer applications are now available, and must be received back by March 31. Claudine Thomas and Ted Otteson can give you info on that experience. With questions, ask Joan Olsen.

UU leadership school in July

UU Midwest Leadership School will be held in Beloit, WI, in two sessions: July 16-23 and July 26-Aug.2. Program brochures are here, and posted. Past participants rave about the experience. Try Chloe Mason Seagrove, Bruce Wiggins, John Blevins or Jim Eller for their opinions. Although the All Souls budget has no funds allocated this year for leadership training, there is an escrow account with monies earned by the Denominational Connections committee that can pay for the Society Fee of $445 for up to 4 registrants. Individuals each pay $495 for room/board and programming for the 7 day session. Some financial assistance is possible, so apply to the Denominational Connections Comm. through Joan Olsen. Let us hear from you no later than April 1.

New from the UUA

The following initiatives of the Unitarian Universalist Association were made possible by our congregation’s contributions to the Annual Program Fund and by individuals to Friends of the UUA.

* A new workshop, Covenanting for Excellence in Religious Education, offers congregations a process to focus on its commitment to excellence in Lifespan Religious Education. It is available through district offices.

* An on-line clearinghouse for campus-based worship and other program ideas was initiated by the Young Adult and Campus Ministry staff and the Campus Ministry Advisory Committee. See it at www.uua.org/ya-cm/worship/index.html.

* Changing Congregations, Changing Cultures, the fifth Continental Conference for Large Congregations, was held in Portland, Oregon. A conference for mid-size congregations was at All Souls this month.

* A new social justice internship program was initiated by the UUA Washington Office for Advocacy and Witness. The young adult interns learn both advocacy skills and how being Unitarian Universalist affects commitments to social justice and healing.

* The Welcoming Congregation handbook was updated and revised to include gender-neutral pronouns, updated definitions, and additional resources. We now have 350 Welcoming Congregations. Welcoming Congregations is available from the UUA Bookstore (800 215-9076; bookstore@uua.org).

* The Journey Toward Wholeness Sunday resource packet was updated. It includes an anti-racism curriculum, resources and guidelines for developing racial justice projects and anti-racism partnerships as well as stories and materials for successful congregational efforts.

* A study guide was published for Belonging: The Meaning of Membership, the most recent report by the Commission on Appraisal. The guide was mailed to each congregation and is available on the UUA web site at www.uua.org/coa/belongingstudyguide.pdf.

* Almost $568,000 in Annual Program Fund Grants was returned to 20 districts to enhance and expand their programs and services to congregations.

* A new on-line newsletter, Journey Toward Wholeness News, covers our JTW efforts and brings stories from UU congregations about their efforts to build anti-oppression, justice-making congregations and communities. It also recommends and reviews resources, lists workshops and events and reports on other developments in the Journey Toward Wholeness. To subscribe, go to www.uua.org/mailman/listinfo/jtwnews.

* Services available on the UUA web site were expanded and improved. They include an on-line ministerial internship opportunities database; on-line registration for General Assembly; an improved UUA Bookstore shopping cart; new on-line systems to assist the Ministerial Settlement Office in placing interim ministers and to make improvements to the regular on-line settlement system; and an on-line loan library for the Church of the Larger Fellowship.

* A Guide to Preserving Historic UU Churches by Elaine Stiles is available on the Office of Information web page at www.uua.org/info/preserving.pdf.

* Starting from Scratch: How to Begin Your Own RE Program for Children and Youth, rev. ed., by Ann Fields, Jeanne Harrison Nieuwejaar and Cindy Spring, is an updated resource for congregations beginning or expanding their RE programs.

* New UU pamphlets were published, including UU Religious Education and Your Child by Gaia Brown and UU Views of Jesus by Bruce Southworth.

* Study guides were written for the study/action issues voted on at the June 2002 General Assembly. The UUA Social Justice Statements book is on the UUA web site at www.uua.org/actions.

* Immediate on-line support following the September 11, 2001 attacks was offered, including pastoral letters and statements from President Bill Sinkford and other leaders, a huge variety of worship resources and a bulletin board on which feelings could be shared. More than 200 web pages were offered.

* Coordination continued for the Campaign for Unitarian Universalism, a capital campaign which will fund congregational leadership development; scholarships for aspiring religious professionals; new curriculum development; public witness; and ministry to youth, young adults and college students. More than $29 million has already been committed or verbally pledged toward the $32 million goal.

* The White Allies Anti-Racism Conference and the second annual Youth and Young Adults of Color Conference were held.

* The Religious Leader, a new quarterly newsletter with news about ministry and professional leadership, is on-line at www.uua.org/ministry.

* 54 congregations in 12 districts were funded through Extension Ministry, New Congregation Ministry, Extension RE Leadership and Racial/Cultural Diversity Ministry programs.

* Fundraising consulting services for annual and capital campaigns were provided to over 70 congregations.

* Negotiations with Church Mutual Insurance Company resulted in a 10% discount for UU congregations purchasing group property and liability insurance. Savings to congregations can be substantial. Contact Church Mutual at 1/800-554-2642, and you'll be directed to the appropriate person to assist you.

* The Washington Office for Advocacy produced a discussion curriculum, Vision and Values in a Post-9/11 World to guide discussion on civil liberties, patriotism and the U.S. role abroad. Download it free at www.uua.org/uuawo/new/sub.php?id=11

All Souls is a UUA Annual Program Fund Honor Society.