Life moves in a continual cycle of beginnings and endings, as we begin a new year we’ll reflect upon the past year and look at the year to come.

    We’ll take a look at 101 ways to create the universe and humanity with an international tour of creation myths. Carol will ask such questions as has humanity evolved from fleas?

    Carol is Assistant Professor at Allegheny College in the Department of Environmental Science, and over the past five years has studied creation myths from around the world. During her free time she ponders the greater meanings of life.

    The ongoing public discourse, sometimes raucous debate leaning toward name calling, between religion and science has recently focused on Pennsylvania. It seems a school board has decided to give equal time to "intentional design" along with evolution in its curriculum.

    The term "intentional design" is not new. I don’t know of its origins, but it is used regularly in books about Darwin and evolution as the authors discuss various ideas on how the universe was created at the time Darwin’s theory on evolution was first introduced in the 19th century. It refers to the idea that the universe is too complicated and magnificent to have just evolved through a series of random and accidental chemical incidents. Those subscribing to intelligent design believe that a greater intelligence must have created the world. It also assumes that the human mind can not now, nor ever; comprehend the creation of the universe. Whether that superior intelligence is still at work is another debate altogether between the theists and the deists.

    As you’ve probably read in the newspapers the ACLU and Americans United for Separation of Church and State are suing the school board because intelligent design, they believe, is another name for creationism, which the Supreme Court has already ruled should not get equal time in public schools.

    What galls so many of us on the science side of this argument is the whole approach by the advocates of creationism and intelligent design. Their approach is to undermine science as having any validity by attacking science and its theory of evolution. They’re attempting to make science as nothing more than a guessing game.

    Unfortunately, what’s feeding into their view of science is a country of people who generally didn’t like their elementary and high school science teachers, and barely passed their exams. There are many myths and misconceptions of science, and a real lack of understanding about the fundamentals of science in this country, and "creationists" are taking full advantage of it.

    Yes, science is about theories. Science is not about presenting "Truth." Science at its most basic level is describing the way things are. Science in its purest from does not address questions of meaning and purpose. It is the methodology that ultimately discerns the difference between a "religious" theory and a "scientific" theory. A scientific theory is based upon evidence that can be demonstrated, and studies that can be repeated in a controlled environment. In short, science is limited to addressing phenomena that are observable, measurable, and repeatable. Darwin did his research, presented his evidence and conducted numerous studies in controlled environments. His theory has grown and changed since he first presented it, but his basic arguments persist.

    Granted no study is without subjective input, but I have yet to see any evidence presented and demonstrated, or studies repeatedly conducted on creationism. A scientific theory has standards that a religious theory simply can not adhere to. A religious theory can be taught as an alternative theory to evolution in another context. Church comes to mind as an obvious example. But until, the public understands the basic principles of science, creationists will be taking advantage of people’s ignorance. That’s a shame beyond measure.

    On Sunday December 12 a memorial service was held in the Parish House for Larry Hydahl who died December 1, 2004. Larry and his family attended the church in the 1970s and worked as our custodian for a while. If you would like to contact the family, please see Kate.

    Our thoughts and prayers are with Lee Ann Wester and her family upon the death of Lee Ann’s mother on December 14.

    A week after my mother’s death I found a letter in my mailbox from one of her dearest friends, Reverend J. Thomas Dugan. He wrote, "A long time ago, Lee Ann, I came to the conclusion that the death of the people we love and who love us is their last and greatest gift to us. It is as if they who gave us life, in their going forth from us, are showing us the way, infusing us with their courage and teaching us that there is nothing to fear." As I write this article on Christmas Eve I think about my mother’s final gift to me. She was so brave, so graceful in her final days. Her life and death is the greatest gift.

    Thanks to all of you for showing such loving support in this difficult time. I received many beautiful notes and cards and lots of hugs. I treasure them all. As Forrest Church, a Unitarian Universalist Minister, writes, "Grief, failure, even death, can thus be sacraments. A sacrament symbolizes communion, the act of bringing us together. Suffering brings together when we discover the lifelines that connect our hearts." All of you are my lifelines. May you have a very blessed holiday.

    During January our RE teachers will be on a well deserved break. The Social Concerns Committee will help lead our January program on global warming. There will be two classes each Sunday (PreK- grade 3 class and a grade 4 - grade 8 class). Classes will be held during the entire service each Sunday upstairs in the Parish House. More information will follow.

    This is the new coffee hour assignment list for 2005. Please look it over carefully and keep it for future use. You will also find the list posted on the church website @ www.uumeadville.org. Please note that if your family has been paired with another for a certain date you may be on the list twice. Sometimes it is easier to share the responsibility on two occasions rather than to have the entire responsibility just once.

    If you have any questions or concerns about the list, please feel free to contact Carlin Almes at 814-676-2902 prior to 12/31/04. After 1/1/05 Carlin will be available at 843-215-5688 or 814-758-2932 or e-mail calmes@verizon.net. Miriam Bowman is also available for questions at 814-333-8545 prior to 1/12/05.

    If you find that you are unable to host your assigned coffee hour date, it is your responsibility to arrange for a replacement and to notify Venessa at the church office.

    Thank you for your help in continuing this church tradition.

    We would like to thank the following people who helped to prepare the brunch that was enjoyed at the church decorating party on December 18:

    The Crawford County Historical Society presents The Unitarian Impact: A Church, a College and Music to the Ear at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Meadville on January 21, 22, and 23, 2005.

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    John Fox will present Founding a New Congregation on Friday, January 21 at 7 p.m. Meadville is noted for the diversity of its early religious practices. At one point there are said to have been more than 30 congregations in the city. John Fox will walk us through the development of one of the early non-traditional congregations.

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    Robert Parris will present a recital on Saturday, January 22 at 3 p.m. at the Unitarian Church. Robert Parris, internationally acclaimed organist, is frequently asked to perform on significant antique instruments in Europe, including recitals on the Arp Schnitger organ, for its 350^th anniversary at Norden. George Hutchings of Boston installed the 1850 Hook’s organ in the church c. 1893, and it is still in use today.

    On Sunday, January 23, the Rev. Jim Hobart will speak at the Unitarian church at 10:30 a.m. Mr. Hobart is an adjunct faculty member of Meadville/Lombard Theological School. The Meadville Theological School was founded here in 1844 and supported by the Huidekoper family until it moved to the University of Chicago in 1926.

    We need volunteers to shovel the snowy walkways around the church. Exercise and burn calories. Morning, noon, or evening. If you can come out for only a short time to shovel part of the walkway that would be appreciated too. Call Venessa at 724-4023 to schedule your aerobic workout!

    Fellowship would love to have a sledding party in late January, but we are in need of the perfect hill. If anyone knows of a hill that might be considered perfect to the sledding set we would love to hear about it. Please contact Peggy Bell at 333-1378; frenchcreekbells@alltel.net.

    Happy New Year to all! And a "Heads up" that Soup Kitchen is on Friday January 14 at Stone UM Church at 10 a.m. Please consider joining the fun – volunteers are always welcome and needed. Call Stewarts at 425-3397 for info.

    Bumper stickers are now avail-able in the church office proclaiming our liberal UU faith! These attractive blue bumper stickers have the UUA’s website and our chalice symbol, along with snappy statements about our faith:

Available for $1. See Venessa in the office.

    In response to local needs, Social Concerns has set up a box in the entryway of the Parish House for non-perishable food donations. Kate says that people stop by the church quite often in need of food. Please consider bringing a box or can when you come to church on Sundays or during the week. Thank you.

    The Membership Committee would like to carry on the Mentoring Program begun a few committees back. We think it a good idea to have an older (established member) assist a new member in becoming acclimated to our church. It would involve minimal assistance: inviting new member to a forum, church event, etc. that you are attending; introducing new member to someone new to them at coffee hour; "checking-up" on the new member every other month, say, for the first year.

    Many new members have already jumped in, so need very little, if any, encouragement. We would like your assistance in this. If you would be interested in doing this, please contact Carolyn Chase. Phone: 967-4762, e-mail chasrupe@mdvl.net.

    Next deadline for submitting items for the newsletter is Friday, January 7, 2005, at 3:30 p.m. You may email your articles to:

<mthaeler@zoominternet.net>; or leave items in the folder on Venes-sa’s desk in the parish house. It would be helpful, when you email material, to write "oracle" in the subject line (helps me find it more easily).

    Thank you.