The Oracle

November 29, 2004

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    Every year Mark and I "discuss" as in argue over when to put up the Christmas decorations. I really love the holiday lights, smells and songs. They lift up my spirit and help temper the chill of winter. So the weekend after Thanksgiving is when I start singing carols and putting up lights. Mark prefers to wait until just before Christmas day.

    As I understand it, Advent and its emphasis on preparation and waiting is an important time for him. Lee Ann Wester explained to me the other day, that it’s an important Catholic thing to do. That helped me understand and put his experience into context. But, I said to Mark in this year’s "discussion" that I’ve been preparing and waiting for eleven months, isn’t that long enough? What’s wrong with a couple or three more weeks of celebrating with good smells, songs and pretty lights?

    Advent means "to come," and is a pre-Christmas celebration leading up to the holiday itself. It is a time of spiritual preparation and getting ready to celebrate the birth of Jesus. It is also a time of expectation, excitement and of learning. To me, Jesus represents a radical and profound love incarnate, and, it seems, we all could use some more love around here. Maybe the preparation is about opening up to a profound and life changing love.

    I understand all of these purposes of Advent, and even agree with their importance during a religious holiday, but I’ve never been a patient gal. My mom will attest to this. I’m not patient with red lights, lines, doctor’s offices, phone hold, good news or bad news, unresolved conflict or even birthday presents. So a religious ritual, specifically set up for the purpose of preparation and waiting, is definitely a growth edge for me.

    So, my beloved Mark, can’t I prepare and wait for the coming of a baby named Jesus with a few lights and some sweet tunes? Can’t I enjoy the December days with talk of what presents we’re going to buy, anticipating family laughter coupled with squeaks of excitement when presents are opened? Can’t I relax into the nights surrounded by candles burning with their soft glow and colored lights filling our living room? Can’t I smell pine and cranberries in our safe home, cuddling with you? ‘Cause I got the Christmas spirit real bad this year, and I can hardly wait! Cheers, Kate Walker

    Wow! At this year’s worship service honoring the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee, we collected at least $813.28! There is more to tally as there were several sealed envelopes and some folks mail in their donation separately. UUSC will send a thank you letter with the total donated. Last year we collected $570 for the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee. In previous years, when we sent home the Guest At Your Table boxes, we barely broke $100 in donations. Now that’s an improvement.

    It has come to my attention that my sermon description for "Rein-venting God" on October 24, was taken quite seriously by a few folks. While the sermon and its title was serious, the description I provided was a spoof. I am sorry for anyone who took it seriously and subsequently spent time looking for "God and Company, Inc." on the internet. No such corporation exists, at least none that I am aware of. While my intent was honorable, to spark an interest in the topic of God as a constantly evolving concept, the results were unforeseen by me. Perhaps my sense of humor is just a bit too subtle. Cheers, Kate

    A week before Thanksgiving my children discovered our stash of Christmas lights in the tiny doorway of my bedroom closet. They dove in like the children from C.S. Lewis’ classic The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe and returned grinning from ear to ear with strings and strings of multicolored wonder. Immediately, they set to work decorating the living room, the stairway, the balcony, their bedrooms. There wasn’t a room that escaped their festive touch! And I’ll admit I wasn’t a willing participant in this decorating madness. Being an ex-Catholic I cringe at all of this early celebration. When I was growing up, the weeks before Christmas (marked as Advent) was supposed to be a time of quiet, reflection, darkness. It was a time of waiting. Unfortunately, retailers have squashed this concept! Christmas decorations have lined the shelves since Halloween. Santa Claus arrives earlier and earlier every year, and children make out their lists months in advance. Advent doesn't stand a chance! So, one morning I set out in search of some Advent supplies. I returned home and carefully arranged three purple candles and one pink candle around a wreath on our kitchen table. I printed several Advent prayers and reflections from the UUA website and placed them beside the arrangement. This Sunday I would introduce my children to the season of Advent.

    By the way, I did finally break down and help my children retrieve the rest of the Christmas decorations from our tiny storage space in the closet. I thoroughly enjoyed hanging lights, setting up the miniature village, arranging our nativity scene, and hanging the stockings. However, every once in while when the holiday season gets crazy, I sit next to my Advent wreath and try to slow down. I reflect on the true meaning of the holiday: love, light, hope, the giving of ourselves.

    Mark your calendars for a day of family fun!!!!

    On Saturday, December 18, we need families to come celebrate the Christmas season. We will be decorating the church and Parish House. There will be activities for children, and they will even get to decorate their own tree. Spend the day with fellow UUs, listen to holiday music, drink hot chocolate, and enjoy lunch together. There will be a sign up sheet located at the front desk of the Parish House.

    Christmas is a time of giving and sharing and loving...

    This year our church is adopting 3 families for Christmas from the Center for Family Services, Inc. Each family consists of one parent and one child. Below is a description of each person and their wish list for this holiday season.

    All gifts need to be turned in to the front desk by December 15. Please gift wrap each item and place a tag on it telling which age and gender the gift is intended. If you have any questions please contact me. Thank you so much for your generosity!!!!

(Boston, MA – November 9, 2004)

    In conjunction with a press conference sponsored today by the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice, UUA president William Sinkford issued this statement about Unitarian Universalist moral values. The press conference was held at the National Press Club in Washington, DC, and featured representatives from several denominations addressing the topic, ‘Defining ‘Moral Values’ For the Next Four Years.’ The full text of Rev. Sinkford’s statement follows.

    Moral values are not just particular opinions on ‘hot button’ topics in a divisive election year. Moral values grow out of our calling as religious people to work to create the Beloved Community. Moral values instruct us to ‘love our neighbors as ourselves’ and always to ask the question, ‘Who is my neighbor?’ They are fundamentally inclusive rather than exclusive, and they call on generosity of spirit rather than mean spiritedness.

    In this post election season, let me express some of the moral values held dear by the Unitarian Universalist community, which I lead, and by many other progressive people of faith:

* We believe that feeding the hungry and clothing the naked are moral duties, and we will continue to work on behalf of economic justice.

* We believe that ensuring equal civil rights for gay and lesbian families is our moral duty, and we will continue to work for Marriage Equality nationwide.

* We believe that serving as stewards of the earth is a moral duty, and we will continue to do everything in our power to protect the environment.

* We believe that safeguarding a woman’s right to choose is a moral duty, and we will vigorously oppose any efforts to eliminate or significantly compromise reproductive freedom.

* We believe that providing affordable health care for all Americans is a moral duty, and we will continue to advocate for medical rights for the young, the old, the frail, and all of those in need.

    Please visit <http://www.uua.org/president/041109.html> to read this story on the web.

    The Fellowship Committee is planning a Christmas Gathering for all members and friends of our UU Congregation on Saturday, December 11 from 2 to 4 in the afternoon in the parish house. The gathering will take the form of a Tea Party where our church members and friends can come to relax and enjoy the company of others for a couple of hours during the often hectic times of the Christmas Season.

    We will have a signup sheet at Venessa’s desk this Sunday. Please sign your name and the number of people that will be attending. We also are asking for your phone number in the event that weather or other circumstances might cause a cancellation. If we have your phone number, we can easily reach you with that information. Please come join us for a quiet afternoon of fellowship, conversation, and a few tasty treats.

    The Fellowship Committee will be meeting soon to make Coffee Hour assignments. If anyone would like to volunteer for a certain Sunday rather than having an assigned Sunday, please contact Carlin Almes at 814-676-2902 or E-mail to calmes@verizon.net by December 12, 2004. Thanks for your help.

    SALON is a series of discussions, meeting every other Tuesday evening throughout the fall and winter from 7 to 9 p.m. in the parish house, with a variety of both topic and facilitative leadership. Copies of suggested advance readings can be found in the church office. If you will have child care needs, please let the office know one week in advance. For questions, call Kate Walker at 814-724-4023.

    On December 7, the Salon topic, requested by holiday enthusiasts, will be story telling. Each Salon attendee is invited to bring a short holiday story, either to tell, or share on audio/video tape. Eggnog and holiday edibles will be flowing for all to enjoy.

    77 people were served beef stew over biscuits at the last Soup Kitchen on Nov. 12 ‘04. We had nine UUs helping with the preparation, serving and cleanup – they were:

    The next date to help will be December 10. We’ll be at Stone UM Church at 10 a.m. Please come and join us. Volunteers are always needed and welcomed. Call Stewarts at 425-3397 for information.

    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.

    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:

• The Uncommon Denomination.
• Different People. Different Beliefs. One Faith.
• Searching for a Liberal Religious Home?
• A Different Trinity: Respect. Freedom. Justice.
• Room for Different Beliefs. Yours.

Available for $1. See Venessa in the office.

    Anyone wishing to donate to-wards the Christmas flowers and decorations to honor a loved one – please send checks made out to Unitarian Church. Please indicate on the checks that they are for the Christmas flowers and include who the donation is to honor. These dedications will be listed in the Christmas program. Suggested donation is $10 or more, and the deadline is December 13.

    The annual Festival of Lessons and Carols will be presented at Christ Episcopal Church on Sunday, December 12 at 4 p.m. Each Biblical lesson will be followed by carols – some by the choir and some familiar carols for everyone to sing. The Reverend Joanna McDermot will be the officiant, and William Witherup will direct the choir and instrumentalists. All are cordially invited to attend this Christmas gift to the community.

    Mrs. Santa’s Penny Shop will be open for business the Sunday before Christmas. Most items $1 or less. A great Christmas shopping opportunity for kids to shop.

    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.

These days, who needs five golden rings? Here's the second of three sets of more affordable, greener gift choices for the holidays. The Social Concerns Committee will list the last four in the next Oracle edition, just in time for late holiday sustainable shopping.

    Five Compact Fluorescent Light bulbs (CFLs). CFLs use one fourth of the energy and last up to 10 times longer than conventional bulbs. Replace five incandescent bulbs with CFLs and you can save about 50 percent on your annual lighting bill. If every U.S. house-hold did so, it would prevent the release of as much greenhouse gas as removing 8 million cars from the road for a year. Many states have price-incentive and/or rebate programs; check with your local utility company. The nonprofit Energy Federation sells EnergyStar-rated CFLs for less than most retailers, at $3-$10 each. <http://www.energyfederation.org>

    Six Recycled Glass Drinking Glasses. Each year, Americans throw away approximately 12 million tons of glass, 38 percent of which is recycled. A growing number of glass artisans are now turning recycled bottles into mugs, wine-glasses and candle holders. Re-cycled Glass Mugs in green or cobalt, $3.25 each. <http://www.greenfeet.com> Recycled Glass Tumblers ($25.95/set of six, <http://www.abundantearth.com> Williams-Sonoma Vert Glassware, hand-blown in Spain, with a green cast, $42/4 wine goblets. <http://www.williams-sonoma.com> 877 812 6235

    Seven Personal-Care Products. Consider a few cosmetics made with truly natural and, yes, even pronounceable ingredients. The following five do not contain petroleum derivatives or other synthetic preservatives, stabilizers or surfactants. We’ve added two eco-friendly grooming aids.

1) TerrEssentials Organic Lip Protector, $3.75. <http://www.terressentials.com>

2) Kiss My Face Active Enzyme Deodorant, $4.29/1.7 oz. <http://www.mothernature.com>

3) Kingfisher Toothpaste, $3.99/6.6 oz. <http://www.mothernature.com>

4) Vermont Soap Aloe Castile Bath & Shower Gel, $5.99/8 oz. <www.newenglandnatural.com>

5) Tom’s of Maine Natural Shaving Cream, $5.49/3.6 oz. <http://www.mothernature.com>

6) Nature's Gate Dental Floss, $2.82/50 yd. <http://www.shopnatural.com>

7) Recycline Preserve toothbrushes, handles made of 100 percent re-cycled plastic, $13 including postage-paid mailer for recycling them. <www.recycline.com> Check out their new, recycled-plastic razors too.

    Eight Household Cleaning Supplies. Of course you want household cleaners that clean, but wouldn’t it be great if they weren’t toxic to boot? The following products contain no phosphates, no animal ingredients, no chlorine, no petroleum and are never tested on animals.

1) Life Tree Ultra Dishwashing Liquid, $3.79/15 oz. <http://www.mothernature.com>

2) Seventh Generation Free & Clear Liquid Laundry Detergent, $6.80/50 oz. <http://www.shopnatural.com>

3) Dr. Bronner’s Sal Suds Liquid Cleaner, $5.99/16 oz. <http://www.mothernature.com>

4) Oxy-Drain (enzyme drain un-clogger) $8.95 1 lb. <http://www.home-environment.com>

5) Ecover Auto Dish Powder, $5.58/48 oz. <http://www.shopnatural.com>

6) Earth Friendly Products Toilet Bowl Cleaner, $3.59/24 oz. <http://www.veganessentials.com>

7) Heather’s Natural Oxygen Bleach Cleanser, $3.29/14 oz. <http://www.mothernature.com>

8) Substitute a solution of white vinegar and water for conventional glass cleaner.

    Thanksgiving is over, and a delightful, creative one it was! Black Friday has come and gone. Why do they call it "Black Friday"? Is it because the sky is still black when the stores open at 6 a.m.? Or does it reflect the moods of the people who have been standing outside the doors since 5, only to find the person ahead of them snatched the last major markdown item they had come here to get? Frankly, I’d rather let the dogs out at six and go right to bed when they come back in.

    When I lived in Boston, occasional trips to Filene’s or Jordan’s basements during the festive season were anything but festive. Mobs of people grabbed clothes off the racks or goodies off the table with no regard for the person who had already started to pick them up. I actually saw people grab items out of other shoppers’ hands, with resulting fist fights.

    Unless you count the treasures I find at garage sales and thrift shops, I’m not much for Christmas shopping. I like to go out on Christmas Eve, not to shop, but to absorb the ambience – overly-familiar carols being played on Muzak by rather ordinary musicians, crowds to be watched but not participated in, a big mug of hot chocolate in one of the coffee shops, and with luck, freshly falling snow in my hair. Then I go home, put on an obscure Christmas carol from the far past, turn on the tree, light a few candles and absorb the odor of balsam.

    Barter is my favorite way of acquiring gifts for friends and family. When I did the craft show circuit in Syracuse, there was a small group of us who formed an informal barter circle. We all decided that the recipients of our largesse were probably tired of 5 years of variations on a theme. Those who were used to receiving enameled plates or pendants from Martin and I now were surprised by lovely stained glass birds to hang in their windows. The birds were made by Carol, whose family would each receive a lovely piece of enameled copper. The next year, it was pottery mugs, dragons and gnomes made by magical Lee, and the year after that, Karen’s batiked silk scarves.

    Now that this year’s craft shows are behind me, I have a few bartered items. The rest will come from my imagination – a handmade book of poems for a friend, a hand-crafted brown doll dressed in African garb for Jasmyn (my grand-daughter), a few of my knit bags filled with interesting odds and ends for far away friends, some cookies, candies or herbed vinegars, personalized Christmas stories for children, a little glitter and a lot of love.

    Then I will spend a bit of time in a busy store, enjoy the Christmas Eve service, go home, put on an obscure Christmas carol, light the candles and the tree, inhale the balsam and dream of sugar plums.

    Check out the new look of the church web page: <www.uumeadville.org>. Jerry Almes has done a wonderful job in graphics, inclusiveness, clear prose, and fun. See pictures of the recent Pledge Reception.

You have been telling the people that this is the Eleventh Hour.

Now you must go back and tell people that this is the Hour.

And there are things to be considered:

Where are you living?

What are you dong?

What are your relationships?

Are you in right relation?

Where is your water?

Know your garden.

It is time to speak your Truth. Create your community. Be good to each other.

And do not look outside yourself for the leader.

This could be a good time!

There is a river flowing now very fast.

It is so great and swift that there are those who will be afraid.

They will try to hold onto the shore.

They will feel they are being torn apart and they will suffer greatly.

Know the river has its destination.

The elders say we must let go of the shore, push off into the middle of the river, keep our eyes open and our heads above the water.

See who is in there with you and celebrate.

At this time in history, we are to take nothing personally. Least of all, ourselves.

For the moment that we do, our spiritual growth and journey comes to a halt.

The time of the lone wolf is over.

Gather yourselves!

Banish the word struggle from your attitude and your vocabulary.

All that we do now must be done in a sacred manner and in celebration.

We are the ones we’ve been waiting for.

    Next deadline for submitting items for the newsletter is Friday, December 10, 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. It would be helpful, when you email material, to write "oracle" in the subject line (helps me find it more easily).Thank you.