NOVEMBER 2007

Office hours: M&F 8-11:30am; T-Th 8am-3pm

Phone: (315) 386-2498

E-mail: uucanton@verizon.net

Web site: www.uucantonny.org

Co-Ministers: Wade Wheelock and Anne Marsh Director of Religious Education: Jan Hutslar

Deadline for next newsletter: Tuesday, Nov. 20

A MONTH OF SUNDAYS

Worship services and children’s religious education begin at 10:30 a.m.

November 4: (Note: Daylight Saving Time ends, set clocks back one hour!)ATo a Far Land@ - The Rev. David Blanchard

We are delighted to welcome back David Blanchard as our pulpit guest.  David, who graduated from SLU and served a summer internship at our church, is currently the Consulting Minister at the UU Church of Utica.  We’ll have music by the Little River Trio -- come at 10:15 for a mini-concert before the service.  You’re invited to bring a contribution of non-perishables for our monthly food pantry collection.  After church, the Coming of Age group offers lunch.

Greeters:      Robin Collen; Joan Collins & George Yellott; Paul Cutter            

Social Hour:      Rajiv Narula; Carol & Tim Opdyke; Galen Pletcher

November 11:   "Why We Are HereY" - Grasse River Players

You’ll laugh!  You’ll cry!  And you’ll think about important things.  In our annual drama service, the GRP will offer music, skits, and monologues in a presentation whose full title is AWhy We Are Here and How We Are Here, from a Theatrical Perspective.@  The production is directed by Karen Wells and will include music by our Choir.

Greeters:      Max Coots & Charlotte Ramsay; Dave Crowell & Rhodes-Crowell

Social Hour:     Sue Powers; Carol & Tom Pynchon

November 18:  "Hare’s Gifts" - Jan Hutslar, Anne Marsh, Wade Wheelock, Sarah Bentley-Garfinkel

Through story and song, our annual intergenerational Thanksgiving service invites us all, whatever our age, to reflect on what matters most in our lives.  With music by the Handbell Choir.  Our monthly Social Action Shared Offering will be taken for GardenShare.

Greeters:      Lois & Duncan Cutter; Kathy Curro; Judy DeGraaff

Social Hour:     Eileen Raymond & Donna Smith-Raymond; Anne Richey; Wil & Rebecca Rivers

November 25: "The Journey of Hagar" - Wade Wheelock and Anne Marsh

Muslims trace their descent from Abraham through Hagar’s son Ishmael, but in some ways Hagar is the more interesting character.  She speaks from the margins of society and her story raises questions about race and class and God.

Greeters:      Steve Doheny-Farina; Jan DeWaters & Stefan Grimberg; Pat Gengo

Social Hour:      Jill & Doug Rubio; Jim Rudd; Peggy Sperling

  IN PARTNERSHIP

When I read recently of a serious movement to split Belgium into two separate nations, Dutch-speaking Flanders and French-speaking Wallonia, I was reminded of the quote by Rodney King -- victim of a racist police beating and then spokes-person for calm after an ensuing riot -- "Why can’t we all just get along?"  It’s a plaintive cry seldom heeded in the history of our cantankerous species. Anything that can distinguish people can divide them, from the invisible qualities of religious faith to the overt characteristics of skin color and everything in between. Economic class creates lines of cleavage in our society where otherwise folks have a lot in common. Protesters and the police in Burma are all Buddhists.

As Unitarian Universalists we belong to a religious tradition of liberalism, close kin to the political tradition, which propounds the inherent worth of every individual. We have a deep philosophical reason to try to get along with others, or at least not to demonize them. But this doesn’t yield a conflict-free endorsement of the beliefs and activities of all peoples and groups. Within the baseline affirmation of others’ intrinsic humanity, we can and must promote our own views and contend against those that would do harm. Getting along doesn’t entail becoming a doormat.

The world can point to some progress in human relations over time. We have a global consensus that at least names racism, genocide, and slavery as evils, even as they continue to be practiced. We have expanded the rights of women. We have goals of eliminating poverty. We possess the  resources to understand the histories and cultures of the varied societies around us. We have institutions dedicated to peaceful solutions. There are more places today than yesterday where AGay is OK.” Now we have the opportunity to further this positive heritage -- by committing ourselves and our religious communities to promoting recognition of our common humanity and respect for each other. That’s a more important cause than creating yet another country to make  our current  atlases out of date.            

— Wade

PRESIDENT’S NOTES

Instead of my monthly column, I’d like to share my annual report:

The Canton Unitarian Universalist Church is prospering on numerous fronts as 2007 concludes.  Membership has grown from 203 to 222 and we are financially sound.  Our endowment has grown from $377,000 to $395,000.  This year, a revitalized Social Action Committee has sponsored a number of events involving members and the wider community.  The monthly Social Action Shared Offerings have raised over $5,300 to benefit local, national, and international social justice causes.  In response to a growing Religious Education program, we have added a second part-time Assistant Director position.  In April your generosity to the Our Fair Share special collection ensured our status as a full Fair Share congregation.  The two-year project of restoring many of our stained glass windows is finished and work continues on other buildings and grounds projects.  The work of the Outreach Committee in publicizing events and activities has raised awareness of Unitarian Universalism throughout St. Lawrence County.  Ad-hoc committees are currently working on a re-design of the church’s web site, addressing ways to deepen our spiritual life, enrich our connections within our membership, and strengthen and expand our outreach, and developing recommendations for sanctuary artwork to represent UU values and beliefs.  It has been a very busy and productive year thanks in large part to all of you.  Without your time, talents, and financial support success would be impossible.

— Pete Beekman, President

 RELIGIOUS EDUCATION NEWS

Although the calendar reads late October, many of us are continuing to enjoy the warm sunshine that reminds us of summer.  These days may create unexpected opportunities for outdoor activities such as hiking or biking, or they may fill us with concerns of climate change.  We imagine that these varied reactions find their way into all of our lives.  Searching for the value while questioning the possible implications is part of what binds us together in our Unitarian Universalist community.

This holistic approach to understanding and interpreting the world is an important focus of our Religious Education program.  As the children and youth continue to learn about the Christian and Jewish roots of our liberal religion, they search for the value in these traditions.  They also ask questions and raise concerns about these stories and beliefs.  How might Moses, Jesus or another biblical character be a role model for us, a superhero, even? Is there a Goliath in our lives that we should stand up to?  How do we feel about obeying an angry God, no matter what our personal convictions might be?  And where were the women and children, for goodness sake?  Be sure to talk with the children and youth in our congregation about their thoughts and ideas.

We look forward to November as the children and youth continue to delve into this subject matter.  The preschool through first grade class continues to explore ideas and values using Spirit Play, a Montessori-based approach to religious education, and the Coming of Age (COA) group is active, working on various projects and looking ahead to a trip to Boston in May.  We will all be together on November 18th for our annual intergenerational Thanksgiving service.      — Jan and Sarah

  HUNGER BANQUET ON NOVEMBER 9

Join the Coming of Age and Youth Groups as they host the Hunger Banquet at 6 p.m. on Friday, November 9, in the Social Room. A unique and memorable event, the Oxfam America Hunger Banquet allows organizers and participants alike to experience firsthand how our decisions affect others in the world. Guests draw tickets at random that assign them each to either a high-, middle-, or low-income tier and receive a corresponding meal. The 15% in the high-income tier are served a sumptuous meal. The 35% in the middle-income section eat a simple meal of rice and beans. The 50% in the low-income tier help themselves to small portions of rice and water. (High-, middle-, and low-income statistics used in the Oxfam America Hunger Banquet are based on the World Bank Development Indicators 2007.)  Guests also assume characterizations that describe the situation of a specific person at the income level to which they've been assigned. Finally, all guests are invited to share their thoughts after the meal. 

  After an Oxfam America Hunger Banquet, few participants leave with full stomachs, but all possess a greater understanding of the problems of hunger and poverty and will hopefully be motivated to do something about them.

  BECOME A MENTOR

November is Mentor Month in the Coming of Age class.  An important aspect of the COA program is the adult mentorship offered to a young person. The intention of the program is that these two people (adult and youth) will connect across the generations and that the youth will find another adult role model and example of living the Unitarian Universalist faith on a daily basis.  This month, youth will choose people they’d like to mentor them, and the COA advisors will contact the adults on their behalf.

  There is an important level of commitment required from the mentor. We will host several (3-4) events during the winter and spring that mentors will attend with youth, and there will be topics that the two will explore together. These events have a specific structure that all involved follow.  There will be other events that are optional for mentors to attend.  If you are approached to be someone’s mentor, you will receive a job description. Please contact Jan Hutslar if you have any questions.

  COMING OF AGE LUNCH

The Coming of Age Group will offer lunch after church on November 4 as a fundraiser for their spring trip to Boston. There will be vegetarian and meat sandwiches, paninis, side dishes, dessert and juice. The price will be advertised that day (but it will be a bargain!)

  JOYS AND SORROWS

$       Our hearts are with Samuel Reyes, whose father died recently in El Salvador.

$       Healing thoughts to Kimberley Bertrand, recovering from a broken foot.

$       Congratulations to Ines Sanchez-Ferreira on the opening of her new art exhibit, “3 Women in Color,” at the New York Law School.

$       We were sorry to hear of the death of former church member Hugh “Gunner” Gunnison on October 7 and send condolences to his wife Patricia.

$       Kudos to all the students, UU and otherwise, who supported gay rights in the recent protest at Potsdam Central School.

$       Congratulations to new great-grandfather Milner Grimsled on the birth of Jordan on October 6, less than two weeks after the death of her great-grandmother Anne Malone.  It is the great circle of life.

  THANK YOU!  THANK YOU!!

$       Thanks to the crew of our fall grounds work day: Pete Beekman, Steve Doheny-Farina, Stefan Grimberg, Richard Grover, Tom Pynchon, Shaili Singh, Rick Welch, and Pete Wyckoff

$       Thanks to George Gibson for a generous gift to our Endowment Fund

$       Thanks to Sue Powers for hosting a viewing of “People Like Us: Social Class in America” on October 20.  Check the Social Action table for dates and places for November viewings.

$       Thanks to Dave Weissbard for hosting the October 21 showing of "The Ghosts of Abu Graib” and to Miles Manchester for lending his projector and expertise.

$       Thanks to Max Coots for a gift to the Capital Reserve Fund for refurbishing the doors at the old side entrance

$       Thanks to all the wonderful Caring Circle volunteers who hosted the reception after Anne Malone’s memorial service on October 13, and especially to reception coordinators Carol Pynchon and Becky Van de Water.

  THE GENEROUS VIEW

By the time you read this, some of you will already have made your financial pledge to the UU Church for next year. Thank you! For those of you who haven’t yet made your pledge, I hope you will soon. It takes all of us to make the church the vibrant place we love. Having said that, the canvass is not specifically the topic of this Generous View, although it is certainly an example of what I do want to talk about.

Recently I’ve been hearing a recurring message - one of hope. In spite of all that is going on in the world, I see people around me demonstrating that we all have the power to make positive change in one way or another and that this power increases geometrically as we work together.

  Ken Okoth’s story was a remarkable example of this. Speaking in church last Sunday, he told us about the “angels” that helped him, a child growing up in poverty in the Kibera slum of Nairobi, Kenya, receive an education, go to college in the United States, and become a teacher and member of the Board of Trustees of his University! Some of his angels made significant sacrifices on his behalf, and, to be sure, there was luck involved, as well. But many of those who helped him just did something. They noticed him, went a bit out of their way, opened their home, gave him a meal, gave him advice, bought him a shirt, sent a little money. In turn, Ken and his wife have become ambassadors for a school in Kenya that is the angel for other children living a vulnerable existence in a community plagued by poverty, lack of education and disease. Perhaps even more important, Ken is showing others how easy it is to become an angel and make a real difference for someone else. In the end, of course, we all benefit. Our own lives become richer, we are empowered, we reclaim what is most important in our own lives-friendship, time to appreciate beauty-and we all get to live in a more just and humane world.

  As a church, we are finding more and more ways to express our generosity, from giving financially to the church and other causes, to supporting one another in times of need and sorrow, to sharing our insights and struggles, to providing food and child care so that others can participate in events, to growing and distributing fresh produce to our neighbors who would not otherwise have any. I’m moved and inspired by that. I hope you are, too.

  In addition to seeing it in action in stories like Ken’s and sermons like the one Chris Rediehs shared with us recently, I keep coming across quotes that reinforce the message. Sounds a little hokey, but maybe someone’s trying to tell me something. So, I’ll end with a couple of them.

$       Generosity is a matter of the heart, not wealth.  — Swahili saying

$       How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world. — Anne Frank

$       Never doubt that a small group of committed thoughtful people can change the world. Indeed it’s the only thing that ever has.  — Margaret Mead

— Valerie Ingram, Stewardship Committee

FREE WILL DINNER

It’s our church’s turn to serve at the Free Will Dinner hosted by Canton’s United Methodist Church.  We do this twice each year; our next date is Wednesday, November 14.  We’ll need 6-7 people to come at 4:15 p.m. to be servers and waitpersons, and 3-4 people to come at 4:45 p.m. to help with dishwashing and clean-up.  The food is provided, and folks from the United Methodist Church supervise the operation.  All who have helped in the past have found it both rewarding and fun.  The dinners are a way to serve the needy in our area and also to provide an opportunity for community for all who attend.  Families with children age 10 and over are welcome to work together.  (Health Department regulations don’t allow younger kids to serve.)   Sign up on the kiosk if you’d like to help.  Thank you!

  SAMHAIN CELEBRATION

Church members Arthur Freehart and Susan Dillon will  lead this Earth-based celebration of a major festival of the Celtic seasonal cycle. It will take place on Wednesday, Oct. 31 (Halloween), at 7 pm in the upstairs room. This may become an ongoing group to gather to perform rituals in honor of other earth-based holidays. Contact Arthur at ArthurFreehart@aol.com. Or 261-4472.

  MEDITATION GROUP

The Meditation Group meets Tuesdays from 5-6 p.m. in Lower Level Room #2.  Various forms and traditions of meditation are explored through guest presenters or out of the group’s own experiences.  Newcomers are always welcome.  Contact the conveners to suggest presenters or get info:  Debbie at dstgerman@twcny.rr.com; Bill at 265-7311.

  LEGACY WORKSHOP POSTPONED

Kendall Taylor’s Personal Legacy workshop, scheduled for November 10, has been  cancelled, but Kendall may offer it at another time if there is interest. This one-day workshop shows participants how to create an autobiography of values and observations based upon what each of us has gleaned from our journey and would like to impart to family and friends.  If this idea intrigues you, let Kendall know (386-1179 artbank@twcny.rr.com).

  SOCIAL ACTION NEWS

"People Like Us"Video

In last month’s newsletter I talked about our focus on class and race, and described the ”People Like Us: Social Class in America” film that we previewed as a committee and hope to share with many in the congregation. The schedule of showings is listed below as well as on the Social Action Committee display in the Social Room on Sundays. Please take a minute to sign up to join us for one of these showings:

$       Friday, November 2, 6 p.m., facilitated by Jan Hutslar for COA/Youth Group-age kids/families* - at church (with pizza!)

$       Saturday, November 3, 7 p.m., hosted and facilitated by Shaili Singh, 84 State Street, Canton

$       Wednesday, November 7, 12 noon, facilitated by Carol Pynchon - at church (feel free to bring a bag lunch)

$       Thursday, November 8, 7 p.m., facilitated by Bryan Thompson - at church

  “For the Bible Tells Me So”

Also in November, as part of the inaugural events for SLU's Center for Diversity and Social Justice, the documentary "For the Bible Tells Me So" will be presented on Tuesday, November 13, and Wednesday, November 14. The film, which will be shown both evenings at 7 in 218 Hepburn Hall, "explores the many facets of the current national conversation regarding the rift between religion and homosexuality — be they religious, scientific, or cultural.@ On the 13th the film’s director Daniel Kerslake will be present and will speak after the film. On the 14th the film will be followed by a panel discussion. The presentations are free and the public is invited.

  Shared Offerings

We had a wonderful Sunday with Ken Okoth in October, including a lively breakfast with the RE children, who enjoyed meeting and talking with Ken and looking at pictures he brought of Nairobi, Kibera, and the Red Rose School. His sermon, in which he reflected on his life and experiences and talked about children at the Red Rose School and how a little help can make a big differences, was thoughtful and inspiring. He urged us to Amake someone happy and make a little heaven down here,@ and we made a start by collecting nearly $1,600 for the shared offering, which will go to support the students and teachers at Red Rose.  

The Nov. 18^th Shared Offering will be taken for the relief efforts organized by the Pacific SW District of the UUA to help UU congregations and affiliated groups and individuals in need because of the devastating fires in California. The scheduled offering for Garden Share will take place in the new year.

  For November, our shared offering will support an organization closer to home. It seems appropriate that as we gather with family and friends to celebrate Thanksgiving — and all we have to be grateful for — we think about our neighbors in the North Country who might not be so fortunate. The November shared offering will be taken for GardenShare, a nonprofit organization working to end hunger in northern New York. As described on their website — www.gardenshare.org — “Garden-Share works to build a North Country where all of us have enough to eat and enough to share — where our food choices are healthy for us, for our communities, and for the environment.”  Visit the website and our SAC display in the Social Room on Sundays to learn more. If you won’t be in church on November 18 for the shared offering but would like to contribute, you may send a check to the church office (payable to UU Church, memo GardenShare).

  The December shared offering will be our traditional holiday collection for the Church and Community Program and Habitat for Humanity. And then we’re into a whole new year! The Social Action Committee will be meeting to select causes/organizations to support through shared offerings in 2008. If you have suggestions, please email me at tpynchon@twcny.rr.com, call me at 379-0949, or leave a suggestion in the basket at the back of the church. If you have any literature on the organization/cause you are recommending, that would be particularly helpful.       — Carol Pynchon

  CHOIR NEWS

The choir schedule for November is:

$       11/4: Rehearse at 9:15 a.m.

$       11/11: Rehearse at 9:15, sing in church as part of the Drama Service

$       11/18: Rehearse at 9:15, sing in church

New choir members are always welcome!

         — Carol Strome, Director

  FROM THE COOTS LIBRARY

Throughout the spring and summer months I have been creating two online databases of the Coots Library collection — one for the adult collection and the other for the children’s books.  The Library Committee is happy to announce that we are now ready to Ago live@ and make the databases available for everyone to use, but we thought some background was in order, so here it is. 

  Last February, a friend came across an item about Tim Spalding, a Maine web developer.  He had developed a web site called LibraryThing to enable book lovers to catalog their personal collections.  My own collection being quite large (1500 titles and counting), and I having worked many years in libraries as a cataloger, he thought I would be interested to know about it.  I was, but not only for my own use.  I had been looking for something we could use to build a database of the church’s library.  LibraryThing was just the ticket — designed to be a library catalog but simple to use and affordable for the church. 

  I found I could open an account free of charge and build a database of up to 200 titles before deciding whether or not to become a subscriber.  I built three — two for the church and one for myself — and was pleased with the results all around.  I told Judy Gibson the good news and brought the information to the next Library Committee meeting where we decided to go ahead and become subscribers ($15 per year per database or $30 for our two databases.)   Throughout the spring I worked on building complete databases.  Over the summer I added our newly-adopted titles.

  The next step is to add links from the church’s web site and online instructions for using the databases.  In the meantime, they can be accessed via the following URLs:

$       Adult collection: www.librarything.com/catalog/UUCanton

$       Children’s collection: www.librarything.com/catalog/CantonUU

  For a copy of the instructions for using the databases, stop by the library or the library table in the Social Room on Sunday or send me an e-mail and I’ll send you a reply with the instructions included as an attachment.  One final note: Ironically, we have no computer in the Coots Library!  The closest computer is in the Religious Education office next door. — Jean Thompson

  THE WIDER UU WORLD

“Nurture your spirit.  Help heal our world.”