August 27, 2010

Hi Everyone!

This weekend promises to be a beautiful one. My charge to you: get out, smell the flowers, go to the Farmers Market, love your life the best you can. If I could I'd deliver a fully ripe tomato from my garden to each of you personally. Consider this a virtual vegetable. See you at the Meeting House!

Harry Carnes, Publications Czar, etc.

This Weekend...

Share Your Vegetables
Bring your extra cucumbers, zucchini, beets or other extras. We will have tables set up in the Commons for collection. Those attending and would like to take some of these home, please help yourselves. Those vegetable's left will be donated to the St. Vincent Food Pantry on Fish Hatchery Drive on Monday morning. This pantry will take fresh garden vegetables and is one of the largest distribution pantries in Madison! We will collect until the end of September.
Questions or concerns? Please see Jeanne Sears jeannes@fusmadison.org or 233-9774 Ext. 116.

Sunday, August 29 at 9 & 11 a.m.

"Food and Faith: How Food
Connects Body and Spirit"
by Karen Gustafson, Associate Minister
Eating, as we know, is not now, nor has hardly ever been strictly about nourishing the body to sustain life. The restricting of certain foods at certain times; the preparation of particular foods for particular occasions; the banning of some foods altogether have been associated with religious traditions for centuries. Few people are simply neutral about food and many are passionate about it for one reason or another. How do our rituals and awareness around food enhance our connection with all of life?
Musically, violinist Leyla Sanyer, with pianist Dan Broner, will play the musical offerings.

Wednesday, September 1...

Japanese Crane Meditation
Starting September 1, Japanese Crane Movement meditation will meet on Wednesdays 12:15 to 1 p.m. This gentle exercise is done in the standing position. After the standing exercise, participants listen to a guided meditation. Visitors are welcome anytime. Bobbi Zehner and Joan Heitman lead the sessions. Contact Joan Heitman at 829 2462 for further information.

Thursday, September 2...

FUS Job Seekers Support Group
Are you struggling with unemployment insurance, searching for work or workers, or worried that your job isn't secure or healthy? Please attend our networking session this first Thursday in September from 7 to 8:30 p.m. in Courtyard D. We meet twice monthly to share stories as we face career and financial problems. For info, contact Jeanne Sears at jeannes@fusmadison.org/233-9774 x 116 or Bob Radford at bob@jobrecovery.org/ 845-3523.

Pantry Garden Harvesting
If you aren't afraid to get your hands a little dirty and want to help area food pantries, join us on Thursday, September 2, at the Malmquist Food Panty Garden from 6 to 8 p.m. to help with harvesting. It's a great way to get to know other members and serve the community; families are welcome! Please RSVP with Emily Cusic (ecusic@gmail.com) so that we may notify the garden of our group size and provide you with any updates. Bring water, gloves (if you have them) and bug spray, and wear sensible gardening clothes. The Malmquist Garden will provide all the tools we will need for harvesting/weeding.
Check out the website for directions, rain cancellations or to volunteer at another time: http://www.foodpantrygardens.org/index.html. We hope to see you in the rows!

Ethical Eating Discussion Group
On Thursday, September 2 at 6:30 p.m. everyone is invited to join an Ethical Eating Discussion in Courtyard AB. We will be examining the impact of the food system on water resources. A few of the ideas we plan to discuss include:
• How much fresh water is consumed in the production of different foods?
• Where does the water come from?
• How are fresh water resources polluted through the production process?
To prepare, you are invited to look into the environmental footprint of a "favorite" food. As you research, consider what the solutions to these impacts might be at an individual, community, state and national level.

Next Weekend...

UU-Red Cross blood drive
Don't forget the blood drive on Saturday, September 4, between 8 a.m. and noon. Walk-ins are welcome, but we would feel better if you let us know of your intentions. Get information or make a commitment after services on Sunday, or contact Anne Mosser 845-7458, agmosser@tds.net. You can also sign up by phone 1-800-GIVELIF or www.redcrossblood.org. Our sponsor code number is 1960. You might win a $500 gas card!

Parent-Child Playgroup Next Weekend
Please join us on Saturday, September 4, in the Childcare Room at FUS at 10 a.m. We welcome all children 4 years old and under with their parents to this informal drop-in gathering. We'll talk and hang out, just like we do every Tuesday and Friday morning (same place, same time). For more info, contact Karen at karenb@fusmadison.org. Hope you'll join us!

Sunday, September 5 at 9 & 11 a.m.

"H2O – More Precious than Gold"
Michael A. Schuler & Karen Gustafson
Join us for our annual late-summer ingathering service featuring a "gathering of waters" from across the planet. Attendees are urged to bring a small portion of water from a summer travel destination, a local source or your own home. This mingling of waters is meant to symbolize our own return to the FUS fold after a summer of recreation, leisure and travel. As we continue to feel the effects of the tragic Gulf of Mexico oil spill, it is a good time to reflect upon and to celebrate the miracle of water.
The FUS String Band will provide the special music.

Wednesday, September 8...

This fall is a great time to Join an FUS Choir….
The Children's and Teen Choirs will begin rehearsing on Wednesday, September 8 (note corrected date) in the Music Rehearsal Room. Directed by Heather Thorpe, the Cherubs (ages 4 through 2nd grade) rehearse at 7 p.m., the Choristers (3rd through 8th grade) at 7:30, and the Teens at 8:15 p.m. Children of FUS members or children of non-members but enrolled in FUS RE classes are eligible. For more info, contact Heather Thorpe heathert@fusmadison.org.
The adult choirs begin rehearsing the following week:
The Meeting House Chorus on Wednesday, September 15, at 7 p.m. in the Atrium Auditorium, and the Society Choir on Thursday, September 16, at 7 p.m. in the Rehearsal Room. All are welcome, no audition is required. For more info, please contact Dan Broner danb@fusmadison.org or 233.9774, ext. 121.

Join The Women's Alliance
All are invited to the September meeting of the UU Women's Alliance will be held on Wednesday, September 8, at noon, at Oakwood West on Mineral Point Road. The charge will be $11 per plate. State Representative and FUSer Spencer Black will give the program. Reservations are needed by Friday, September 4. Contact Kathy Nix at 836-5616 or nixkl@tds.net.

In Two Weeks...

Saturday, September 11 at 4:30 p.m.
Sunday, September 12, at 9 & 11 a.m.

"Living by Heart: Spiritual Practice and Poetry"
by Karen Gustafson, Associate Minister
One definition of spiritual practice is that which we do that connects us in an intentional way with the larger context that informs our lives. Prayer and meditation are traditional means of making this connection. The late Harry Scholfield and his colleague Laurel Hallman discovered together a way of using poetry and other sacred text to feed their spirits and to connect with the sacred.
Musically, on Saturday, soprano Tamara Brognano will sing, accompanied by Linda Warren. Sunday the Madison Horn Club will provide the musical offerings.

Fall Circle Suppers Deadline is September 11
Time once again to sign up for Circle Suppers! Circle Suppers are informal group meals which meet monthly in members' homes or in settings selected by those hosting and are wonderful ways to meet new and interesting people. It's easy to get started. Use the on-line form at http://www.fusmadison.org/adult/circle_supper.shtml or contact Dawn Stucki at destucki@tds.net or 849-8078.

"Keeping Hope Alive in A Troubled World"
A Saturday morning retreat for
those who care about social justice

September 11 • 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
$10 registration fee includes a full breakfast

The morning features conversations with three social justice activists who will discuss how they keep their spirits up in the face of ongoing adverse world events.

Chip Duncan
Chip Duncan, author of Enough to Go Around, a book about his experiences in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Darfur. Chip has received more than 100 national and international awards for his work as a writer, filmmaker, and photographer. His books will be available for sale during the program.

Joy First
Joy First is a local peace activist who has a leadership role in the National Campaign for Non-violent Resistance and participates in Witness Against Torture. She has been arrested over 25 times while carrying out her work of civil resistance.

Jeff Klenk
Jeff works with the UN and NGOs in disaster preparedness and emergency operations. He trains and instructs staff in conducting emergency food security assessment and other responses to refugee emergencies and natural disaster.

Registration
Registration by e-mail, telephone on on-line. For information and telephone registration, please contact: Mary Savage marysavage@tds.net or 233-6129 On-line registration and payment at www.fusmadison.org

Sunday, September 12...

High School Youth Group Starting Up!
If you're in high school (or equivalent), we invite you to join us for our first youth group meeting of the year on Sunday, September 12 at 11 a.m. in the Hearthroom (the back of the Landmark Auditorium). This year our group will have a social justice focus which will include conversations, activities, speakers, and service projects, based on our seven Unitarian Universalist principles and what the group is interested in. Questions? E-mail Youth Group Coordinator Karen Barrett-Wilt at karenb@fusmadison.org. Come help us build a strong youth community at FUS!

Sunday, October 17...
Madison Area CROP Hunger Walk
First Congregational Church will again be hosting the Madison Area CROP Hunger Walk scheduled for Sunday, October 17. Last year, nearly 600 walkers raised $65,000! Help will be needed to make this year's CROP walk an even bigger success. Walkers will be needed and many hands will also be needed to work the many different aspects of the walk.
For more information, contact Jeff Rabe at 233-9751 or jrabe@firstcongmadison.org

Other Items of Interest...

Cabaret 2011 Auction Needs a Great Theme
Don't forget to submit your theme ideas for Cabaret 2011. Cabaret is an auction party where we eat, drink, and enjoy wonderful music while raising funds for FUS. This year's Cabaret is Friday evening, April 29 – save the date!
We've already gotten some great theme ideas. Send your ideas by September 19 to cabaret@fusmadison.org or drop a note in Judith Siers-Poisson's mailbox. Include theme name and any suggestions you have about food, music, and decorations. The congregation chooses their favorite theme October 2-3 and the winner gets a pie!
Want to help the Cabaret team put the "fun" in "fundraising"? Just e-mail cabaret@fusmadison.org or let Judith know.

Register for Adult Ed Classes Now!
You should now have your copy of "The (Nearly) Everything Program Guide for Curious Adults." In there you will find the listing of wonderful and intriguing adult education classes being offered this Fall. Some of them start SOON, so please register. Go on-line to http://www.fusmadison.org/adult/adult-education.shtml or stop at the RE Information Table. There will be Adult Education Committee members there to answer your questions.