The Oracle

"Dobie, are you okay?" "Yea, I just have a sore leg is all," he mumbled while prancing with a limp down the path ahead of me. "Dobie! We’ve only been walking for five minutes! Already you’re hurt." I was dismayed to say the least. "Do I need to remind you the last time we were here at the Erie Wildlife Refuge you ended up in the hospital overnight with an abscess on your paw?" "Yup, I remember that! Wouldn’t, couldn’t, but should forget that one. Boy, that one really hurt," he called over his disappearing rear end, as it awkwardly bumped up and down.

He came back a couple of minutes later, decidedly slower than when he first bolted out of the car back in the parking lot. "Dobie, I can’t afford another vet bill. Between you, the cats and Lady, I’m nearly broke." "Welcome to risk and old age," he snapped back at me. "Risk and old age?! What are you talking about now?" I exclaimed as I stepped around a muddy section on the trail.

"Well, by your accounting – I can’t say I ever keep track of these things – I’m already over eleven years old. By your standards, that’s getting up there. I have some arthritis in my back hip, yet I still want to do things and I don’t want some inconvenient and damn annoying pain getting in my way! So I ignore it and that’s the risk." He said this as he dashed off toward some innocent wild life.

I couldn’t help but understand his sentiment. I too have some pain in my hips and knees as well. Yet, he has me by several years, according to the dog vs. human aging yard stick. Dobie limped back without his prize, thank goodness. "Dobie, why does everyone resist growing older?" I ask my old wise companion. "Ah, come on! Just because I have some white on my muzzle you think I know the answer to everything?" he complained as he gingerly stepped over a log. "Yup," as I too stepped gingerly over the log.

"I think it’s pretty obvious, don’t you?!" Dobie was now placed directly under a tree where he was sure a squirrel had escaped for its life. "Spell it out for me Dobie. Pre-tend I’m not as bright as we both know I am," as I walked past him, knowing he would eventually catch up.

The heavy breathing behind me a few minutes later told me he had given up on the squirrel. "Well, take the squirrel for example. It was terrified of death – it should be with me on its tail – so it ran blindly in pursuit of protection. If it was a confident big brained mammal, it would have turned around and taken me on. Each day we all choose to either run blindly in fear of death, or we can turn around and take death on. That’s life and death, one big package deal. We are either protected from it, or we face it. Either way, death is going to get us eventually. And either way, aging affects our decisions," he calmly explained to me as he ducked in front of me.

Dobie continued over his shoulder, "As we get older our bodies and our minds either cooperate with what we want or they don’t. And they can also dictate our decisions. If we’re in a lot of pain, then fear often rules. If we can ignore the pain, or mask it with drugs, then we have a chance at facing death. No matter what, our daily choice of either running from death or facing it, gets harder as our bodies and minds decline."

With that final pronouncement, he takes off after something or other in the field ahead of us. I don’t see him again for several minutes. His limp is quite severe as we near the car. He has a hard time getting back in the car, but keeps trying. I visit the vet again and am sent home with pain pills. He says thanks each day I give it to him, as he watches intently through the house windows for squirrels to chase. Dobie makes his choice every day. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him run for protection.

Cheers,

(Mike McGrath, Sue Fuller, John Fox, Herb Klions, Susan Haas, Amelia Carr)

The committee survey experts pointed out that most people do not mark the extremes on surveys be-cause there is always room for improvement and nothing is THAT bad. Nevertheless, a few people did mark extremes, which can pull an average in either direction.

Forty-eight surveys were re-turned, which the committee feels is a good number to work with.

Overall the survey results are good. On straight average (not broken down by age for example), there were no numbers below 3.0. Nothing stands out as needing im-mediate attention. The top three averages: People are most happy with the overall quality of the music programs for Sunday services (4.78). People feel the RE program provides a rewarding experience for our children (4.41). People feel the congregation provides an opportunity for each individual’s spiritual journey and growth (4.11).

The bottom three averages: People say the present method of fundraising is satisfactory (3.28). People say the congregation is open to change in order to meet the needs of new members (3.43). And our adult RE provides a rewarding experience (3.5).

We have the survey broken down by five age groups, gender, participation in adult RE, children’s participation in RE, participation on the board, committee service, over-all participation, numbers of years member. This data has not yet been interpreted.

A full report will be made to the congregation, hopefully in August and most likely in the Oracle. Individual reports to relevant committees will also be made. The COCM will hold focus groups in the fall. Venessa has typed up the com-ments/suggestions verbatim (anonymous) and these will be made avail-able for all to peruse.

A few suggestions that came up: Committees and the board should focus more on only 1-3 goals each year. The board needs to consider a five year plan. We need to have less sugar at coffee hour. We should consider holding silence/meditation after coffee hour.

Many thanks go to Alice Deckert for countless hours of number crunching and to Mike McGrath for coordinating and spearheading this survey. Thank you to all who completed a survey. Your input makes all the difference in creating a healthy congregation.

    I sat cross legged on my bed-room floor folding clothes ... a thrilling experience. I yawned and opened the cabinet door. Just as I was about to place my husband’s white tee-shirts inside I caught a glimpse of something blue. I pulled on the fabric and found a very thin, worn out, faded blue shirt. However, this was no ordinary shirt. This was the shirt my husband had worn on our first date in August of 1992. I smiled at his language of love.

    Languages of Love was the book my mother-in-law had recommended I read after I had gone to her in a state of despair over Aaron’s obvious lack of romance. Yes, I admit, I’m a little of a romantic. I’ve been known to read a romance novel from time to time. I enjoy candlelit dinners, slow dances to corny country western songs, and chick flicks at the local theater. I love to surprise Aaron with an unexpected card or flowers, and I plan romantic geta-ways. This is my language of love. However, I have learned in our 12 years together that Aaron and I do not speak the same language. At first I thought my husband’s lack of romance was due to his lack of feelings for me. Now I know that he just speaks his love in a different way. I may not get a dozen roses, but I do get a phone call every day after work with the words, "Hello, beautiful, how are you?" I may not get a handwritten poem, but I do get an empty dishwasher. I may not get a candlelit dinner, but I do get a wonderful evening alone while he plays with the children. He may not ac-company me to the local theater to see the latest love story, but his does accompany the family to miniature golfing, amusement parks, and the beach.

    We all have our own languages of love. My daughter is very open with her affections. Many times throughout the day she will come up to me, arms open wide, an "I love you" on her lips sealed with a wet kiss. My son is more subtle. He will quietly climb in my lap and lay his head on my chest. The acts may be different, but the message is the same.

I carefully folded the thin, blue material and reverently returned it to the shelf in my husband’s cabinet. This shirt was worth more than a lifetime of roses.

(By the way, in my husband's defense, I do receive flowers, cards, and candlelit dinners on special occasions with a few hints from yours truly!)

    During the RE workshop on visions and goals, we identified a very important issue: Intergenerational worship. Our children need to be active participants in the larger UU church community. However, since RE classes are scheduled during worship services and located in a different building, many times the children (and even teachers) feel separate from the rest of the church. In response to this issue, we feel a strong commitment to intergenerational services. In the new school year we will be providing these intergenerational services once a month. During these services the children will have the opportunity to be a part of the church community by greeting, being an usher, reading, or sharing a musical talent. Younger children in grades PreK-3 will occasionally still have an RE activity in the parish house on these Sundays.

    The children involved in the service will work with our minister, Kate Walker, the DRE, Lee Ann Wester, and the Worship Commit-tee to ensure the continuation of high quality worship services. These services will help meet our goals as written on our new RE mission statements ... We intentionally strive for intergenerational experiences that build bridges, celebrate diversity, and provide opportunities for growth. (Please visit our website www.uumeadville.org or visit the RE display during coffee hour to view our RE mission statements.)

Dear friends and fellow UUs,

    This is an inquiry to see how much help that Ginny Crowe and I can get for Saturday July 24. Peg Anderhalt has been cleaning out her farmhouse for months now, getting ready to have an auction. She asked if the people of our church would care to handle the food that day and make some $$ for said organization. I said, "Of course!" and started making lists. We’ll offer donuts and coffee until about 11 when we will have sloppy joe’s available. Also need sheet cakes made (and/or pies!!). So please reply as to what you can do: work a shift; bake; help set up and tear down. Anyone have a big cooker (like my mother used to make goulash in for company)??? BIG!!

    WILL AWAIT YOUR REPLY!

Kim Miller and Susan Lethro are having a union ceremony on September 3, 2004, at 7:00 p.m.

We would be honored to have your presence on our special day. Please let us know if you plan on attending.

There will be a sign up sheet in the parish house.

Thank you,

Inner Voices, our covenant writers group, meets the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month. We are a rather fluid group, and our attendance varies from 2-10, usually 4-6. The stalwarts seem to enjoy the stimulation of the group and perhaps being pushed a little to WRITE. If you’d like to give us a try, you are welcome and under no obligation. If you have questions, call Carolyn Chase, or e-mail chasrupe@mdvl.net.

    PBS (WQLN, 91.3 FM Erie) airs an interesting program on Saturdays from 1 to 2 p.m. It is called This American Life and consists of three or four vignettes on people’s unusual behaviors, attitudes, comedies – whatever the host, Ira Glass, collects from around the country. At the beginning of June he and two producers were here in Meadville for two days interviewing Hilary Hoffman and an expert on small farm management brought here by Glass to review what it’s like to be a small farmer – with Hilary as the guinea pig.

    The contact was made through a free-lance writer whom Hilary met last February at a Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture conference in State College. She called him in May out of the blue to ask if he would do this.

    Hilary has no idea of the thrust of Glass’ report, but he hopes it will be sympathetic. When Glass gives him the date the program he is on will air, he will notify everybody, so Stay Tuned!

The annual chicken BBQ and craft fair at Wesbury will be Sun-day, July 18. A special worship ser-vice will begin at 9:45 a.m., and the BBQ and craft fair open at 11 a.m. There will be live entertainment, home-baked goodies, and unique crafts. For more information, contact Wesbury at 814-332-9000.

    The UUA Office of Church Staff Finances has announced a new contest for sermons and presentations on the topic of health insurance by a UU minister or layperson. Prizes of $1000, $750, $500 and $250 will be awarded. Health insurance, health care delivery, and the possibilities for universal health care in the US should be addressed.

    The sermons or presentations must be delivered orally to a UU group between September 1, 2004 and March 1, 2005, and the one selected will be delivered at the UUA General Assembly in June 2005. The sermons or speeches can be submitted between September 15, 2004 and March 15, 2005. For more information contact Ralph Mero, UUA Office of Church Staff Finances, 25 Beacon St., Boston, MA 02108, 617/948-6404.

    Did you know that the UUA regularly files or co-files resolutions seeking social justice policy changes in companies in which the Association’s funds are invested? Re-solutions filed this shareholder season included asking Chevron/Texaco Corporation and Glaxo Smith Kline for a report on the economic effects of HIV/AID/tuberculosis/malaria in southern Africa. A recent World Bank report warns, "a complete economic collapse will occur" unless there is a response to the HIV/AIDS pandemic in southern Africa. Chevron/Texaco operates in 50 African countries and employs 15,000 people there.

Other action and resolutions included:

The UUA is an active member of the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility (ICCR), a 30-year-old coalition of 275 Protestant, Roman Catholic, and Jewish institutional investors. ICCR members annually sponsor over 100 share-holder resolutions advocating corporate social and environmental responsibility.

Next deadline for submitting items for the newsletter is Friday, July 23, 2004, at 3:30 p.m. You may email your articles to:

<mthaeler@zoominternet.net>; or leave items in the folder on Venessa’s desk in the parish house. Thank you! By the way, yes I did notice that the date on the last Oracle said July 5 instead of June 28. Big whoops! I was really flummoxed about when the next one was due.