June 2016 SUUN - Unitarian Universalist Church of Spokane

June 2016 • Volume 24 Issue 6
Unitarian Universalist Church of Spokane Monthly Newsletter
CREATE COMMUNITY • FIND MEANING • WORK FOR JUSTICE
Up Coming Services
June 5 Youth Service
UUCS Youth Leaders
June 12 Tilting at Windmills: Why We Invent Make Believe Enemies
Rev. Dr. Todd Eklof, UUCS Minister
Even after the nationwide recognition of same sex marriage and the game changing transition of Caitlyn Jenner,
there remains much animosity toward those in the LGBTQ community, and there are many working to turn back
the clock. Whether it’s bathroom signs in the era of segregation, or bathroom laws today, or walls at the border, or
other methods of discrimination, it seems too many still have need to make enemies out of their neighbors. Why?
June 19 Being Revolutionary: Creating Positive Change in Our Era of Upheaval
Rev. Dr. Todd Eklof, UUCS Minister
It doesn’t seem to be getting much airplay, but there are signs a revolution is occurring in our nation, if not
throughout our world, in which ordinary people are demanding a more level playing field for everyone. I’m
personally excited and hopeful about this time of peaceful social transformation, but am also cautious about
how we should proceed. In this sermon, I will discuss the difference between a rebellion and a revolution, and
what it means to be truly revolutionary in our approach.
June 26 Compassion Psychology
Dr. Russell Koltz, Guest Speaker
Russell Kolts is a clinical psychologist and professor at Eastern Washington University, and founder of the
Inland Northwest Compassionate Mind Center. Dr. Kolts is the author of several books, including An Open-Hearted Life,
which he co-authored with Venerable Thubten Chodron, founder and Abbess of Sravasti Abbey, a Buddhist monastery.
CALL TO THE UUCS ANNUAL CONGREGATIONAL MEETING
Sunday, June 12, 2016
After 11 am service
All UUCS members are invited and encouraged to attend our Annual Congregational Meeting called by the Board of
Trustees (BOT). According to the UUCS Bylaws, 15% of voting members constitute a quorum at a business meeting.
This means we need 56 members with voting privileges in attendance to conduct the business of the church. In
addition to hearing reports from the BOT and the minister, members will be asked to consider and vote on the following:
• Candidates for the 2016-17 church year nominated to fill positions on the Board of Trustees (BOT) and
Nominating team. Please see the “Meet Our Candidates” section of this newsletter for candidate biographies.
• 2016-17 fiscal year operating budget* — Next fiscal year runs from July 1, 2016 through June 30, 2017
*Copies of the candidate biographies and proposed budget are available on the church website,
from the church office, and in the back
1 of the Friendship Hall on Sundays
TODD’S THOUGHTS
As we reach the end of another church year, I realize I’m
also completing my 5th year as your minister. It’s still hard
to believe so much time has already passed and I remain
as enthusiastic as when I first arrived. We’ve helped
accomplish some really big and important things together,
including marriage equality, marijuana legalization, criminal
justice reform, as well as worked on many other important
causes. We’ve also accomplished a lot to get our own
“house in order,” so to speak, by clarifying our mission
and ends, strategic planning, and balancing our budget.
This last part may not sound as thrilling as changing the
world, and often seems more controversial, but it is no less
vital to our ministry and our success. We’ve come through
some difficult decisions together, including a few staffing
changes that have understandably caused some confusion,
heartache, and hard feelings. We’ve also sweated some of
the small stuff together, like where to move plants, or put
video screens, or how to best arrange the chairs, or make
slight adjustments to our familiar order of service. It’s all
part of the dance we do. To be sure, the most difficult part
the past five years, at least for me, has been losing far too
many members of our church family, and seeing too many
others suffer from illnesses, tragedy, and losses of their own.
Ministry can be as heart wrenching as it is rewarding, as
frustrating as it is fulfilling, and as exhausting as it is exciting,
but, through it all, I have felt your compassion, appreciation,
trust, understanding, and support. It remains such a privilege
to be your minister! And I remain
grateful and enthusiastic to be
with you. I look forward to our
— Rev. Dr. Todd F. Eklof,
year ahead.
UUCS Minister
UNITARIAN
UNIVERSALIST
Appreciation and Farewell
Potluck for Jet Tilley!
To celebrate Jet’s amazing journey as she departs
employment at UUCS effective the end of June, we
are having a delicious potluck Friday, June 24, 2016,
at 6p.m. RSVP’s are not necessary. Those of you who
also might like to express your appreciation directly to
Jet are encouraged to write Jet a card (and if you want
to include a gift with your card, please do so). There will
be a festively wrapped box for cards in the back of the
Sanctuary in the Friendship Hall during Sunday Services
June 12 and June 19.
CHURCH OF SPOKANE
4340 W Fort Wright Drive
Spokane WA 99224
Phone: 509-325-6383
FAX: 509-325-6635
www.uuspokane.org
For anyone who is interested in helping with this party,
please contact Cheryl Conn at 509-714-7106, or
[email protected].
We look forward to seeing you at the potluck!
TREASURER’S REPORT
UUCS YTD Revenue & Expenditures
We are Now Streaming Our Services
Eight months, July 1, 2015 - April 31, 2015
If you need to leave the sanctuary, but don’t want to miss
what’s happening, just find our wireless network (UUCS)
and enter the access password: UUCSbooster. Then go
to our website at www.uuspokane.org. The streaming
access is on the homepage.
Pledges
$29,262
$314,487 $385,500
83%
82%
Other
$8,403
$70,223
83%
98%
$71,080
Total Rev
$37,665
$384,710 $456,580
83%
84%
Expenses:
$36,741
$178,392 $456,580
83%
84%
Net Rev.
M-Team Meetings
Your M-Team meets regularly to discuss the daily operations
of the church, address concerns of congregation members
and teams, and plan how best to move the mission and vision
of the congregation forward as per our Policy Governance
charge. Our 4 PM meetings are held in the Administration
Office workroom. Please check with Rev. Todd for the
meeting times in June. Of course, all are welcome to attend
the meetings. If you are unable to attend, but would like
something to be put on the agenda, please contact Rev. Todd
at (509) 325-6383 or [email protected]. May M-Team
meetings are the 10th and 24th
March
Revenues:
MANAGEMENT TEAM
% of
Annual % of Year Annual
Budget Completed Budget
Year
to Date
$924
$14,655
Special Purpose Funds & funds held in Trust at 430:
Endowment Fund Balance 4/30/16:
at market value
at cost
2
$36,974
no update available
at this time
NOTE: Our treasurer, Chuck Elsen, away in Spain walking
the Camino de Santiago, so his regular text report is
missing this month. Thanks to our former treasurer, Marie
Bjork, for getting the financial reports together and
providing them to us and the BOT. Marie’s review of the
April financials contains the encouraging words, “Nothing
looks out of whack, or with the potential of causing issues.”
BOARD SLIVERS
It has been quite a ride with my third and final year on the Board of Trustees coming to a close the end of June. I have been
a member of the church for twenty years and know and understand so much more about the operations end of the church,
the role of the Management Team versus the Board, the need to always have our Ends in mind in all decision making, the
ongoing workings of the budget process, the need to be diligent in communicating with the congregation, and being open
with an empathetic ear, heart and mind. I have become new or better friends with individuals that I respect for their hard
work and support of all that makes this church what I love.
By now I hope that everyone is aware of, and plans on attending the congregational annual meeting Sunday, June 12th after
the second service. A brown bag lunch will be available for those that are attending the meeting.
As Board president, Ann-Scott, wrote last month, “it is a very important time in our church year”. The proposed 2016-17
budget will be presented which includes changes in our church staffing structure. Change can be difficult, and the Board
will continue to be available each Sunday up to the day of the annual meeting to answer your questions to help ease us into
these changes recommended by the Personnel Team.
We are delighted the proposed budget offers a generous benefits package to full and part time employees including
medical, dental, disability, life insurance and retirement. The budget will allow us to pay our fair share dues to the UUA and
Pacific Northwest District for the first time in many years. Also, increasing needed dollars to the Repair and Replacement
Fund to maintain our church building and grounds.
Yes, exciting times, and changing times will help us to continue our move forward fulfilling the congregations Strategic Plan
and our commitment to social justice in the wider world.
If you have any questions about the staffing changes or the budget please stop by the Board information table in the
Friendship Hall on Sundays and talk with a Board member. We would like to answer your questions before the annual meeting.
The Board of Trustees meets the 4th Wed 6:30-8:30 p.m.
The June B.O.T. meeting is on June 22 at 6:30 p.m.
All are welcome!
We look forward to seeing you June 12th!
— Susan Stiritz, UUCS Board Vice President
UUCS MUSICAL NOTES
Roy Zimmerman, Roy Zimmerman, Roy Zimmerman is coming! Again! If you love NPR’s “Capital Steps” presentations,
zingy satire that pokes fun at our present political and social dilemmas, Come Hear Roy! He is a top notch guitarist with
a good voice AND he has the ability to write really potent, funny lyrics. You’ll split your sides laughing at his hilarious but
pointed take on all the shenanigans that we are facing in our nation and the world.
Roy’s take on things is obviously liberal, so he visits lots of UU
churches in his wanderings all over the USA and he is no “small
potatoes” performer. He has been heard on Showtime, HBO and NPR
and shared stages with “biggies” such as Bill Maher, Robin Williams,
Ellen DeGeneres and George Carlin. His main emphasis is generally on
Peace and Social Justice and he is always creating new material that
specifically speaks to our current state of affairs—such as fracking,
torture, creationism, same-sex marriage, guns, marijuana, abstinence
and greed. With it being an election year, I’m sure his new songs are
doozies! And if you’re like me, you could probably use a few laughs
given how things are looking on the national front.
His new show is called “This Machine” and I can’t wait to hear what
gear he’s in this time!
Even if you heard Roy last June, Do Not miss this — you’ll regret it if
you do. The concert is on Saturday, June 11th at 7pm right here in our
Sanctuary and we’ll split the proceeds with Roy, so this directly benefits
our church — always a good thing. Although I’m not sure any of our
conservative friends could stand this one, please DO bring every liberal
friend you’ve got — we could all use a little pointed humor about those
weighty issues that can get us down if we don’t watch out! The cost
is $18 at the door (we are not selling advanced tickets) or pay what
you can. So spread the word and show up yourself! See you there for
laughs and a really good time.
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Your Music Director — Deb Jacquemin
FROM THE CHURCH ADMINISTRATOR
New Printer/Copier in Office
As some of you already know, we have a new printer/copier in our administration office. It was time to make the switch
because the lease on our old machine was coming to an end and our vendor (ABC Office Equipment) made us a deal too
good to be refused. The new machine will save us over $100 per month, which is a very good thing.
The other good thing is that the new machine is an updated version of our old one. This means it should be fairly simple
for folks to use. The biggest difference for users is the new, touch-screen display. If you need to use the copier and aren’t
comfortable with just diving in, come by the office and one of our volunteers will show you how to do your copy job.
Change Coming Soon
As you know from the BOT notices and meetings in the Friendship Hall on Sundays, the 2016-17 proposed budget calls
for the elimination of the full-time Church Administrator position. And, although Todd and the Personnel Team offered me
one of the two, 20-hour per week manager jobs that replace the administrator job, I have respectfully declined the offer. My
decision took into account professional, personal, and financial considerations, all of which clarified a half-time position
with partial benefits is not a good fit for me at this time in my life.
The plan is for me to continue my administrative work for the church through June 30. This timeframe will allow me to assist
with the transition of duties associated with the administrator position to the manager positions with the intention of insuring
church operations continue to function as smoothly as possible after my departure. As well, I will have the opportunity to
complete current fiscal year activities and projects, clean up the piles in my office (no small task ;-), and, hopefully, say,
“Merry meet. And, merry part. And, merry meet again,” to as many of you as possible.
Please know it has been a privilege to be of service to the UUCS congregation for these past six years. I feel honored
to have helped keep the institutional church sound, in order to house and lend weight to the prophetic, activist church
embodied in the UUCS mission.
— Jet Tilley, Church Administrator
DEADLINES AND
PUBLICATION GUIDELINES
UUCS Solar Snapshot
As of Tuesday, May 24, 2016, at
approximately 2:45 PM, our 75
panel solar array has produced 81.8
megawatt-hours of electricity since
being installed in November 2012. This
off-sets the same amount of CO2 as planting 1,480
trees and is approximately equal to the energy:
The SUUN (monthly newsletter)
Upcoming Deadlines for Submissions
July 2016 issue — To be announced
August 2016 issue — To be announced
Send SUUN submissions to [email protected]
• Produced by 27,278,489 AA batteries
• Expended to power a light bulb for 718.6 years
• Spent to charge an average cell phone for 2,538.6 years
• Consumed to run a refrigerator for 49.7 years
• Used to light up the Eifel Tower for 34 nights
Submitting Articles to the SUUN
Email SUUN submissions to [email protected] with
UU SUUN in the subject line. AND, please do not format
your article. Submissions may be attached as an MS
Word document (Times New Roman font in 12 pt. type),
a plain text file, or in the body of your email. Thank You!
AROUND THE CHURCH
— Kathryn Alexander, UUCS SUUN Editor
SUUNday FOCUS (Sunday bulletin)
Our Hearing Loop System
Every Wednesday by 10 a.m
UUCS has a hearing loop system in the
church sanctuary/friendship hall area to
assist people who have hearing loss.
Send SUUNday FOCUS submissions to [email protected]
Check Run Cut-off Dates
Remember, when in church for
services or events, if you have
compatible hearing aids, switch
them to T-coil or ask at the sound
booth for a hearing assistance headset.
Requests for checks from members, teams and staff
need to be submitted, along with invoices or expense
documentation, to the office by the 1st and 3rd Mondays
of each month. Check request forms (green slips) are
attached to the front of bookkeeper’s mail box in the office.
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MEET OUR CANDIDATES
Every year at the Annual Congregational Meeting, members of the UUCS vote into office those among us who’ve been
recruited and stepped forward to generously offer their service to the church. This year the congregation will be voting
on candidates for positions on the Board of Trustees and the Nominating Team. Please review the candidate biographies
and get acquainted with them. If approved by the congregation at the Annual Meeting on June 12, 2016, they will be
representing you and our church in the upcoming church year and beyond.
Board of Trustees Candidates
Warren Carpenter
Jerry White
I was attracted to the Unitarian Universalist Church of
Spokane about five years ago when I found that this church
would be the answer to my search for a church home. I left
an active and progressive church in California in the early
nineties. That church promoted an ethical and progressive
spirit that was at the forefront of progressive thinking at the
time. Since leaving California I have sought a church with
similar foundations. The thoughtful and ethical sermons at
this church provided much of what I was looking for.
I have been attending events at the UUCS with my wife
Linda Moulder for close to 30 years and have been a
member since 2004. I have been closely associated
with environmental endeavors in the church community
and helped bring about our Green Sanctuary status.
I administered an environmental speakers series for a
number of years and brought Allen Durning of the Sightline
Institute to speak at city hall council chambers. I set up
and maintain the church compost program and initiated
several energy saving measures in the church. Working with
SustainableWorks I helped over 40 of our church members
improve the energy efficiency of their homes.
I have attended UUCS for about five years. During that time
I have served on the usher team and on the stewardship
committee. I am currently lead usher.
I taught biology at EWU for 35 years and helped raise two
boys (one of which is the current Spokane Riverkeeper). I
currently volunteer for Meals on Wheels, Spokane Alliance
and am co-team leader of the church Core Team.
Now retired, I previously worked as a project manager for
software development and implementation. I consulted with
manufacturers to install information and control systems
that would integrate their business activities.
I believe a progressive, liberal movement leads to a more
compassionate and caring community and so I want to help
support the UUCS. I served for four years on the statewide
SustainableWorks board and have studied John Carver’s
Reinventing your Board.
Currently I am active in woodworking, dog agility
competition, Tai Chi, and, of course church. Also, I drive
a route for Meals on Wheels. When I was professionally
active I was president of the local chapter of the Project
Management Institute.
The strengths I bring to the church are in process analysis
and perhaps a sense of humor.
Nominating Team Candidates
Gail Furman
Annica Eagle
I have happily been a member of UUCS since 2008,
but I first found my home in Unitarianism in 1993 at the
Community Unitarian Universalist Church (CUUS) in
Kennewick, WA. At CUUS, I served on the board, was vicepresident, chaired the Committee Council, and started a
women’s spirituality group. Here at UUCS, I have been in
the choir for several years and have served on the music
committee, stewardship committee, worship team, and
shared ministry team. I have also helped out in various
other informal ways.
I have been a lifelong U.U., growing up in this congregation.
I worked as a youth ministry co-chair and a summer
teacher at Goldmine, the U.U. leadership school in Olympia.
While in Portland for college, I was very active in both
campus and city U.U. communities, eventually leading
a couple of U.U. campus groups as well as a campus
interfaith council.
Now back in Spokane, you can find me every other Sunday
in the sound booth: producing, mixing, and editing the
services. You’ll also often find me working as a facility host
at the church when we rent the space. I regularly volunteer
with Planned Parenthood, I am an improviser and comedian
at the Blue Door Theatre, and work part time for EWU as a
grader and web page compiler. I design and make jewelry,
and like playing instruments. I’m passionate about fly-fishing,
am known to unicycle, and can’t stop myself from punning.
I have two delightful grown children, who live too far away
with my 4 grandkids – in Portland and L.A. I recently retired
from my career as a professor of educational leadership
at Washington State University, and am now working very
part-time and enjoying pursuing other interests, e.g., art,
travel, and trying to re-learn French! And, I am looking
forward to deeper involvement in the church and would be
pleased to serve on the Nominating Committee.
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For more information, contact any member of the
Nominating Team: Cindy Fine, Cly Evans, Dan Eacret, Sally
Ray or Karen Dorn Steele.
CELEBRATING RELIGIOUS EDUCATION
Tracy’s Thoughts
What We Want for Our Children and Youth
The Sunday school model for religiously educating
children and youth is no longer as effective as it once
was. Families, children and youth are often running
as fast as they can to participate in all the activities
of modern childhood. Adults, particularly parents,
are also running as fast as they can in their lives and
on Sunday mornings just want to go to church and
be renewed, and don’t want Sunday mornings to be
another commitment of something else to do.
The model for religiously education our children and
youth needs to change. This is agreed on across
Unitarian Universalism and across denominations.
What is less clear is what the next model is.
A good place to start is what we want for our
children and youth after they have grown up
in our church. What do we want them to have
learned and experienced? Only then can we work,
determine the best ways to ensure that they learn
and experience these things. I recently discovered
the vision statement for the Tapestry of Faith
religious education program offered by the UUA,
which I’ve included below. It articulates perfectly
the outcomes I want for our children and youth.
I am interested in what other members of our
congregation believe.
We envision children, youth, and adults who:
•know that they are lovable beings of infinite
worth, imbued with powers of the soul, and
obligated to use their gifts, talents, and potentials
in the service of life;
•affirm that they are part of a Unitarian Universalist
religious heritage and community of faith that has
value and provides resources for living;
•accept that they are responsible for the
stewardship and creative transformation of their
religious heritage and community of faith in the
service of diversity, justice, and compassion;
•realize that they are moral agents, capable of
making a difference in the lives of other people,
challenging structures of social and political
oppression, and promoting the health and wellbeing of the planet;
•recognize the need for community, affirming
the importance of families, relationships and
connections between and among the generations;
•appreciate the value of spiritual practice as a
means of deepening faith and integrating beliefs
and values of everyday life.
— Rev. Tracy Springberry
UUCS Consulting Minister of Religious Education
UUCS hosts Regional Spirit Play Training
On August 27, UUCS will host Spirit Play teacher training with
a national trainer in the methods of Spirit Play. Spirit Play is a
Unitarian Universalist curriculum method for children in preschool
through 5th grade. Teaching methods are based on Montessori
methods. The classroom is created as sacred space and teachers
open classes with chalice lighting, song and story. Then the
children make their own meaning through play and art.
The purpose is to help children experience church as sacred
space as well as beginning their life long contemplations of
questions such as Who am I? Where did I come from? What is
my purpose? What are my gifts? How do I choose to live my life?
What happens when I die? Why am I lonely and sad sometimes?
UUCS offered Spirit Play to our preschool through second graders
this spring and children have very much enjoyed it. There is some
skill in creating sacred space as well as helping children direct their
own learning rather than having the teacher direct the training. For
this reason, training by national trainers is strongly recommended.
If you are interested in teaching Spirit Play, talk to Rev. Tracy
Springberry about the program. Rev. Springberry can be reached
at (509) 638-5316 or [email protected] or [email protected].
Seeking Home Hospitality Hosts for Spirit Play Training
The weekend of August 26 through August 28, the UU Church of
Spokane will be offering regional training for Spirit Play teachers.
We will have teachers and volunteers from Portland, Seattle and
Moscow. Our trainer is from Vancouver BC. All have requested
home hospitality. If you would be interested in offering home
hospitality, please contact Tracy Springberry at tspringberry@
uuma.org or [email protected].
Summer is Coming — Famous UUs Needed
Summer RE classes will being on June 26th. We are looking
for those theatre and history buffs who are willing to dress
up as a famous Unitarian Universalist and share with the
students who they are and how they lived their faith in their life.
We have information on all sorts of UUs for your reading and
research pleasure. Let me know if you would like to do this.
Tracy Springberry at (509) 638-5316 or [email protected] or
[email protected].
Summer is Coming — Calling Artists, Musicians,
Storytellers, Outdoor Adventurers, Lovers of Games
If you have some skill, talent or joy you would like to share with
our children, this summer would be a great time to share during
our one room school RE program. Let me know if you would like
this. Tracy Springberry at (509) 638-5316 or [email protected] or
[email protected].
Experiencing Other Faith Communities — Teachers Needed
A great way to understand one’s own faith is learn about other
faiths. One of the most well liked religious education curriculums is
Neighboring Faiths. Youth study different faiths and then visit other
houses of worship. They enjoy the curriculum and are deeply engaged.
We are seeking teachers for this program for next year. Most teachers
love teaching it because they learn as much as the youth.
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OF INTEREST TO UUS
SAVE THESE DATES
Getting to Know You
Your Spokane Alliance UU Core Team invites you to continue to Create
Community by engaging in a 20 - 30 minute meeting with another church
member/friend. If the term relational meeting puts you off, just rename it or
whistle “Getting to Know You.” Anna and the King of Siam will not mind.
We are all members of Spokane Alliance by virtue of dues paid by
the church. Our Core team is a small group of folks who coordinate
between the Alliance and church as it pertains to our Mission. Want to
join us? Send a note to Marilyn Carpenter at [email protected]. For
more information on the Alliance, see http://iafnw.org/spokanealliance
Reports from some recent relational meetings tells us that the opportunity
to listen to someone else’s point of view can open doors to change: a
friend who felt left out was introduced to a member who helped solve that
problem. A meeting duo shared after-retirement volunteering plans. Some
new members with small children have found ways to meet others who
share parenting ideals. Two relational “meeters” find meaning in a shared
goal of working with homeless teenagers.
Our challenge continues until the end of June. If you’ve enjoyed a deep
and thoughtful discussion via these relational meetings, please invite
someone new to engage with you. Who do you want to know better?
If you would like to have a relational meeting but feel shy about
contacting another person, email Lannie at lanniemacandrea@msn.
com and a Core team member will invite someone to meet with you.
— Submitted by Lannie MacAndrea for the Spokane Alliance UU
Core Team
All Church Read
Looking for a way to get involved with other members of our
Congregation? The UU for Justice in the Middle East group in
our church is hosting an All Church Read. We are asking as many
members as are interested to read The Lemon Tree: An Arab, a Jew
and the Heart of the Middle East by Sandy Tolan.
The UUJME will be hosting discussion groups in September and
October. If you already belong to a book group, we would like to
suggest that your group read the book. There is a discussion guide
on line if you would need one.
A synopsis from GoodReads: In 1967, Bashir Al-Khayri, a Palestinian
twenty-five-year-old, journeyed to Israel, with the goal of seeing the
beloved old stone house, with the lemon tree behind it, that he and his
family had fled nineteen years earlier. To his surprise, when he found
the house he was greeted by Dalia Ashkenazi Landau, a nineteen-yearold Israeli college student, whose family fled Europe for Israel following
the Holocaust. On the stoop of their shared home, Dalia and Bashir
began a rare friendship, forged in the aftermath of war and tested over
the next thirty-five years in ways that neither could imagine on that
summer day in 1967. Based on extensive research, and springing from
his enormously resonant documentary that aired on NPR’s Fresh Air
in 1998, Sandy Tolan brings the Israeli-Palestinian conflict down to its
most human level, suggesting that even amid the bleakest political
realities there exist stories of hope and reconciliation.
This book is available at Aunties, Spokane Public Library and in the
church bookshelf and of course on-line.
— Submitted by UUCS Member, Barb Stuebing
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OutSpokane PRIDE
Parade & Rainbow Festival
June 11 in downtown Spokane Riverfront
Park (by runners sculpture)
Parade steps off at noon. Festival runs all day
and evening.
Roy Zimmerman in Concert
Saturday, June 11 at 7 p.m. in the UUCS
Sanctuary
See UUCS Musical Notes for details.
Annual Congregational Meeting
Sunday, June 12, 2016 after 2nd service in
the UUCS Sanctuary
See the Call to the Congregational Meeting in
this newsletter for details
Civil Disobedience Training
Saturday, June 18 from 10 am to 4 pm in
the Thoreau Room
Direct Action Spokane is hosting a day of Civil
Disobedience Training at our church. Veteran
activists, Nancy and Rusty Nelson will facilitate
the training.
Coal & Oil Train Community Forum
Wednesday, June 29 from 7 to 9 pm in the
UUCS Sanctuary
Spokane Councilman Breean Beggs has asked
us to host a community forum on the issue
of coal and oil train traffic through Spokane
as he considers supporting a local ordinance
or initiative on the issue. Please show up to
express your ideas and opinions.
UUCS Women’s Retreat
September 30 - Oct 2, 2016
The theme for this year’s Women’s Retreat
is “Getting to Know You.” We will spend the
weekend on beautiful Lake Coeur d’ Alene at
Camp N-Sid-Sen getting to know ourselves and
other UU women. Judy Fjell will be our guest
keynoter. She will do Saturday workshops, a
Saturday concert and Sunday worship. She will
perform her signature music and lead campers
in participating in making music together. As
in past years there will be a variety of other
workshop opportunities to select from.
The cost is $125 for the whole weekend. Partial
scholarships are available on request. Contact
Charlotte Streit ([email protected]) or
Deena Romoff ([email protected]) if you
have questions. Registration will begin June 1st.
Look for further information in the Focus bulletin.
TEAM & GROUP NEWS
Attention Team Leaders
Endowment Team
Consider memorial gifts to our UUCS endowment fund
Are you wondering how the office staff and volunteers can
support your Team’s activities and projects? Here are some
ways we can help: Make copies; help with mailings, including
envelopes and postage; provide supplies, such as tape, paper,
folders, markers, pushpins; offer use of staplers and paper
cutters. We are happy to work with you and for you. Just ask!
Our Endowment Fund is progressing very well toward our goal
of $500,000. As I write this, our Fund is about $390,000 up
from $322,000 last October.
Many of you may think that only large legacies resulting from
a bequest left in someone’s will increases our Fund. Wrong!
There are many ways to help our Endowment Fund grow and
our Endowment Team members can discuss these with you.
FYI: Our church office is open Monday through Friday from
10 AM to 2 p.m.. The phone number is (509) 325-6383.
Pastoral Care Team
One of the ways our Fund grows is due to the many small to
modest cash gifts that some of us make month after month
and year after year. Within this category of gifts, many are
given in memory of a friend or relative who has died.
The Pastoral Care Team focuses on needs of congregation
members such as (1) transportation for medical appointments
or other events including church, (2) meals brought in to the
home, (3) social visits and information regarding community
services, (4) caregiver respite, (5) home repair and light hauling.
These services are provided during times of crisis or life
transition. Pastoral Care also provides help with Memorial
Service and reception planning.
As an example, since 2005 Mary and I have made memorial
cash gifts totaling about $2800. We gave these in memory
of my favorite aunt, my mother, a women who was like an
aunt to me as a child, as well as several friends. Some of
these persons were not UUs - although, they had ‘closet
UU’ qualities that made them special to Mary and me.
Trained Pastoral Care Team Members are also available to
attend medical appointments with those desiring help receiving
and using information from medical personnel. All uses of
Pastoral Team services are strictly confidential and are limited to
the specific wishes of the congregation member involved. Please
keep the pastoral team in your thoughts and whenever you have
a need, please contact us. Any team member may be contacted.
Many of our Fund’s memorial gifts are as small as $25 to $50.
Over time, these add up. Give some thought to such a memorial
gift when a friend or relative passes - even if they are not UUs. It
is as easy as writing a check with “in memory of … “ or a cash
gift with a note stating who the gift is in memory of.
The Board policy is that once the Fund reaches $500,000,
we can annually divert a modest amount ($20,000-$25,000)
toward our annual budget for Church operation. The actual
amount will be established to allow the Fund to continue to
grow and will NOT tap the principal. We are SOOOO close!
Please help this worthy cause in support of the long-term
AND daily fiscal security of our Church.
Team Members Are:
Todd Eklof, Minister
Joan Nelson, co-leader Doug Huigen
Chris Kent
Ruth French
Cheryl Rohrig
Mary Ann Soltis
Amy Howard, co-leader
Cynthia Cilyo
Majil Fausel
Torge Lorentzen
Evan Armstrong
Lee Smith
— Tom Mosher, UUCS Endowment Team
Buildings & Grounds
UU Women
Many thanks to the hearty souls who stayed after church
on May 22 to rake bark, weed, prepare the raised beds for
planting, move compost, wash walls & chairs. Stephanie
Samson, Dian O’Brien & Bonnie Overlie prepared a fine
lunch & Deena Romoff managed the basement sale. A
heartfelt hug to the following people: Derek Brockman,
Jeff Hedge, Jerry Jose, Jacob Johns, Dave Gard, Jan
Gard, Larry Hodge, Dan Gore, Kristi Winther, Phyllis Thayer,
Leonard Butters, Jean Stewart, Raymond Klingelhoffer,
Allan Foster, Mary Jokela, Pat Johnson, Phoebe Daniels,
Nancy Avery, Mary Monroe, Peggy Eklof, Sherolynn
Hurlbert, Candace Schmidt, Tom Schmidt, Mary Ann
Soltis, Judy Gammon, Dick Gammon, Susan Whaley, Linda
Hodge, Diane Wagner, Laura Gusdorff, Torge Lorentzen
& Julie Jose. I’m sorry if I missed including your name.
This was a great turn-out. The church looks better, the
playground is safer for our children and we all experienced
the fellowship of the job jar.
Lunch at Mary Lou’s Milk Bottle.
Wednesday, June 8 at 11:30 AM.
802 West Garland. The Milk Bottle is a Spokane landmark,
milk shakes a specialty. Join us for lunch and a “walking
tour” of the Garland neighborhood. Please RSVP Judy
Gammon at [email protected] so we can save a seat for
you- no reservations at the Milk Bottle.
The Third Thursday Book Group.
Thursday, June 16th at 1 PM.
The book for discussion is The Light Between Oceans by M.L.
Stedman. It is the story (fiction) of a light keeper and his wife
and a baby they find washed ashore in a boat and all that
follows. For more information, to join the group please contact
Donna Borden Rhodes at [email protected].
New readers are always welcome.
In the tradition of the UU Women’s Federation all the women of
the church are invited to participate in UU Women’s activities.
— Julie Jose, Building & Grounds Team
8
TEAM & GROUP NEWS
Come Join the Worship Team!
Buddhist Meditation Group
Are you interested in how to make our services as
meaningful as possible? Are you willing to think about
the nuts and bolts of how our services work? Do you
care about how we can better join together on Sunday
mornings? If so, join us on the Worship Team! We work
with both Todd and Deborah on creating the best possible
experience for all who come to our services. Our next
meeting will be June 8. Contact Susan Virnig (susan@
newstories.org or 535-3998) for more information or if you’d
like to talk about the work of the Worship Team.
The Nuns Are Back!
The nuns at the Tibetan Buddhist Sravasti Abbey are teaching
meditation on Monday nights from 6:30-8:00 in our chapel
now and throughout the summer. Beginners and drop-ins
are always welcome. The classes include two meditation
sessions, homework, discussion/questions about meditation,
and reflections on the book “Living with an Open Heart” —
though it is not necessary to have the book or to have read
it. These classes are often just amazing. If you haven’t ever
given them a try, come join us at least once! Contact Susan
Virnig <[email protected]> for more information.
Why do we have Lay Leaders?
This month we are beginning a new on-going feature for the SUNN on the role of lay leaders in our services. We’ll start with
background and a description about lay leading and then in each of the next month’s we’ll profile one of the lay leaders. The
following words are a result of an interview of Susan Virnig by Marilyn Carpenter, both of whom are lay leaders.
In 1994, Linda Whittenberg told our congregation that she wanted to have lay leaders participate in our services. She explained
that all of us are part of the ministry and having lay leaders is one way to make that visible. As soon as the lay leaders started, the
variety of voices and readings from them richly complimented the role of the minister. Together the minister, lay leaders, musicians
and storytellers collectively create the service. (When the minister is out of the pulpit, the lay leader works with the music director
to create the whole service based on the message of the guest speaker.)
Our services are rituals, which have been an important part of human culture from the beginning. For ritual to work well, it’s
necessary that some things are always the same, and that other elements are new and fresh. You have probably noticed that
certain parts of the service, like the closing words and our ending song, Shalom, are always the same, week after week. However,
the readings and the music are ever changing.
Once a year, usually in February, the lay leaders gather for a training. It is a refresher course for current lay leaders and a way for
new people to learn about the requirements of lay leading. The lay leaders use a script to guide them through the services.
Lay leaders spend many hours preparing for each service. To select the readings, they look through books of poetry, scriptures
from world religions, books on the topic of the sermon and more. Each lay leader tries to find the most powerful and resonant
words to add to a particular service. Then the lay leader has to practice reading the selected words aloud several times so that the
words can be easily understood and their deeper meaning can be conveyed. It takes a lot of work to be a lay leader but most of us
consider it a privilege!
GENEROSITY MATTERS
2016-17 Pledge Drive Update
As of May 22nd, we have received 215 pledges in the total amount of $363,764 for 2016-17.
For comparison, in the current church year there are 216 pledges on the books, totaling $372,652.
Pledges still outstanding continue to slowly trickle in from the 25 or so members with pledges in the current church year and/
or our newest new members who have not yet submitted a pledge for the next church year which begins on July 1. We remain
hopeful that many or most of the outstanding pledges will eventually be received. It seems
safe to say our pledge income next year will at least slightly exceed the current church year’s
pledged income with a good increase in the number of pledging units.Although we cannot
promise the pledge drive will reach the $385,000 goal, we remain optimistic.
And in case you have been wondering, You do not have to be a signed member to pledge
and No pledge is too small or too large. Be as generous as your circumstances allow and
together we will generously ensure the continuation of our vital mission both within our
UUCS sanctuary walls and beyond, in the wider world.
You can submit your pledge online at www.uuspokane.org. It’s quick and easy. Why not today?
If you have questions, call the Church office, (509) 325-6383
— Cheers, Sunny Cook and Cindy Phillips,
Generosity Team co-chairs
9
Nonprofit Organization
U.S. Postage
PAID
Spokane, WA
Permit No. 1147
UNITARIAN
UNIVERSALIST
CHURCH OF SPOKANE
4340 W Fort Wright Drive
Spokane WA 99224
Phone: 509-325-6383
FAX: 509-325-6635
www.uuspokane.org
Address service requested.
The SUUN is a monthly publication of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Spokane.
Minister & Staff Contact Information
Rev. Dr. Todd Eklof, Minister....................................minister@uuspokane.org
Jet Tilley, Church Administrator.................................admin@uuspokane.org
Deborah Jacquemin, Music [email protected]
Rev. Tracy Springberry,
Consulting Minister for Religious [email protected]
Covenant Statement
We, the Unitarian Universalist congregation of Spokane, promise to:
support and care for one another,
embrace diversity of persons and spiritual paths,
search for truth and understanding, and
work for social justice and environmental stewardship.
With this covenant, we honor each other with our laughter and
tears, our compassion, and respect.
We are a community of open hearts, open minds, and open hands.
If you no longer wish to receive the SUUN, please contact us at [email protected]
Board of Trustees:
Ann-Scott Ettinger, President
Wayne Attwood
Donna Borden Rhodes
David Gard
Jeff Hedge
Julie Rector
Sue Stiritz
Board of Trustees (Ex-officio):
Chuck Elsen, Treasurer
Jan Gard, Secretary
Management Team:
Rev. Dr. Todd Eklof, Minister
Lee Dominey
Cly Evans
Phyllis Thayer
Stephanie Samson
Jet Tilley, Business Administrator
Church Office Hours:
Monday-Friday 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.