nUUz Sunday Morning Services 5310 Old Mill Road, Fort Wayne, IN 46807

Unitarian Universalist Congregation
of Fort Wayne
nUUz
Issue 11 ~ Volume 75
November 2014
5310 Old Mill Road, Fort Wayne, IN 46807
Contact information
Minister:
Rev. Misty-Dawn Shelly
[email protected]
Minister Emerita:
Rev. Dr. Laurie E. Proctor
Congregational Administrator:
Kirsten Eckert-Smith
Office hours:
Sun.-Thurs. 9 AM to 1 PM
[email protected]
(260) 744-1867 (office)
Director of
Religious Education:
Mary Lybarger
[email protected]
Youth RE Committee Chair:
Evan Davis
Director of Music:
Suellen R. Kipp
[email protected]
2014 President:
Colleen Carpenter
[email protected]
This Congregation is dedicated to the
progressive transformation and
ennoblement of individual and social
life through religion, in accordance
with the advancing knowledge and
growing vision of humankind. Bound
by this common purpose, and
committed to the freedom of belief, we
hold in unity a diversity of convictions.
~~ Source: UUCFW Bylaws ~~
Sunday Morning Services
Sunday, November 2
11 AM: Celebrate Samhain! Join in our Multigenerational worship service to
celebrate the festival of Samhain. Samhain (pronounced saah-win) observes
the sacred time of Summer’s end, the harvest, and honoring the dead. We
will parade about in our costumes and create altars of the harvest and to
honor our dead. Please bring a photograph or small token to remember a
beloved living being that has died to share as we create our altar. All are
welcome to come in costume, even Rev. Shelly will be dressed differently!
Following worship, join in fun and fellowship in the social hall!
Sunday, November 9
11 AM: Rev. Shelly will lead worship and her sermon will be Seeking Room for
Peace. The sermon is based on Howard Thurman’s reading “I Seek Room for
Peace” and honors our veterans. Plan to stay for our Annual Congregational
Election Meeting and a fundraising soup lunch from the Worship Committee.
Sunday, November 16
11 AM: John Moore on See No Evil, Hear No Evil
Israel’s Dilemma, Our Dilemma. As a denomination, we Unitarian
Universalist are notoriously quick to render moral and ethical judgments on
almost any topic one might care to choose, whether it be birth control, voter
registration, human rights, greenhouse gas control, or questions of war and
peace. Yet our denominational leadership is curiously silent on the matter of
the Israeli-Arab conflict and its central underlying Palestinian component.
Why is that and what does it matter to us here in Fort Wayne?
Sunday, November 23
11 AM: GA 2014. Rev. Shelly will lead worship. Our time for all ages will
include communion in celebration of Thanksgiving. Following worship join
the Mission & Vision Café Conversations in the Social Hall (see page 11 for
more details).
Tuesday, November 25
7 PM: Interfaith Thanksgiving Service @ The Temple - please join us!
Sunday, November 30
11 AM: Gratitude for Volunteerism. Hope Sheehan and several members of
UUCFW will reflect on how volunteerism impacts their lives and their UU
faith.
Childcare hours for infants and toddlers are
10:45 through 12:15
Beloved Community
Diverse Beliefs
Shared Values
Page 2
I don’t have to chase extraordinary moments to find happiness - it’s right
in front of me if I’m paying attention and practicing gratitude. ~Brene
Brown
A
Message
from
Our
Minister
Rev. Misty-Dawn Shelly
I recently attended Fulfilled Leadership, a Center for Congregation’s
workshop led by one of my professors from Andover Newton
Theological School, Kirk Byron Jones. Jones introduced me to the
power of Howard Thurman and the practice of stillness,
awareness, and playfulness. In addition, his course work invited
the use of the creative lens and not simply the lengthy mid-term
and final papers that I was most familiar during my seminary
days. In this workshop, I was reminded of the teachings and
practices of awareness and playfulness that he introduced in the
classroom. I was reminded of the importance of caring for the
reservoir of heart and mind with stillness, to “observe the comma”
in the poetry of life. I needed this time of listening and
conversation with one of my mentors more than I understood at
the time.
I joined him for lunch and we had a great time catching up. I shared with him our most
recent multigenerational worship service that included “creative meditation” stations and how
wonderful the sight from the pulpit after we returned to our chairs. There were adults and children
wearing flower hats, bouquets of paper flowers, conversations that culminated in smiles and
sharing of stories. I looked out to a sea of smiles. Ten minutes is all it took to move us into an
awareness of playfulness that also connected us to each other in a way that stories, songs, and
silence do not. His eyes and smile widened as I shared of our ministry here at UUCFW and the
stillness and playfulness we invite into our gatherings.
Often times, I believe fulfilled leadership is qualified by numbers: of books read, of members,
of words in the sermon, of attendees in worship or religious education, of programs offered, of
meetings attended. I realized I may be chasing extraordinary moments. Perhaps, I am not alone
and you too are chasing extraordinary moments. So, I invite you to remember the awareness of the
commas in the poetry of life. Recall what is nourishing to your reservoir of heart and mind.
November invites us into an opportunity to be aware of the harvest, to take time to recognize and
celebrate those among us who have contributed to the abundance of our community in ways that
are sometimes less than extraordinary. November asks us to bear witness to the turning of the
season, to pay attention and practice gratitude; for happiness is right in front of us, if we only take
time to see it and give thanks for all that is our life.
Thank you, Kirk Byron Jones, for the reminder to breathe, to receive God’s love and embrace,
to experience and express gratitude for self and other, and to welcome this moment, not one of the
past or the future, but this moment right here and right now.
May you witness moments of happiness in the coming days. Blessings ~Rev. Misty-Dawn
Diverse Beliefs
Beloved Community
Shared Values
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November: Gratitude
Sacred Text: Gratitude Unlocks by Melody Beattie
Rev. Misty-Dawn
Shelly Office Hours
Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into
enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order,
confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a
home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past,
brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.
Rev. Misty-Dawn’s office
hours are:
Reflection:
To set an appointment, please
email
([email protected])
or call (744-1867).
What are you the most thankful for in your life right now?
How has your gratitude changed you?
How do you show your gratitude to others?
Tuesday & Thursday: 10 AM
to 2 PM and
Wednesday: 5 to 8 PM.
Practice:
Take time each day to write down three things, moments, people for which you are grateful. Share
one of these on the Gratitude bulletin board in the gallery this month.
On the Worship Horizon
December 7: Festival of Lights Multigenerational Worship
December 14: Rev. Shelly will lead worship
December 14, 7pm - Healing Vespers: This is a contemplative service with long periods of silence,
joined with song and reflection on the isolation and grief that comes during this holiday season.
December 21: Rev. Shelly will lead worship and our Ceremony of Dedication (below)
December 24, 7pm: Candlelight Christmas Eve Service
December 28: Worship Committee Sunday
A Ceremony of Dedication is a ritual that honors a reverence for life. A UU Child Dedication ritual is a sign
of our reverence for life, our welcome of a new person, and our hope for the future of the world. Some of you
may have been dedicated in this UU congregation or in another one; some of you may not. It is not required
in our faith that children be dedicated. It is a choice some families make as a sign of their UU faith.
On Sunday December 21, we will offer this ritual of blessing to those in our congregation who are celebrating
new life. A Ceremony of Dedication is appropriate when a new baby is born, when a child is adopted, and
when a family decides to join a UU community and wishes to have its children welcomed through this ritual
of dedication. This Ceremony of Dedication also offers a time for those youth, under the age of 18 years old,
who have joined our congregation through active engagement, to be honored and welcomed. In the
Ceremony of Dedication, the community expresses its hopes that every child receives love and affection,
guidance and nurture, so that each child may grow into the fullness and promise of life. Members of the
congregation and those gathered welcome the child, family, youth, in love into the human community, in the
spirit of humanity’s oneness, and into the fellowship on life. Families in this ceremony covenant to accept the
faith’s community’s support as they nurture their children to grow as people, who will be strong in spirit,
secure in self, and outward in caring. If you are interested in being a part of this Ceremony of Dedication on
Sunday, December 21, during the regular worship service, please contact Rev. Shelly at 260-744-1867 or
[email protected]
Diverse Beliefs
Beloved Community
Shared Values
Page 4
Board of Trustees Meeting recap
At the October 22nd Board of Trustees meeting the following occurred:

Book review: Rev. Shelly led the Board in discussion of the book Congregational Leadership in
Anxious Times by Peter L. Steinke during a carry-in dinner prior to the meeting.

Nominating Committee presented its selections for 2015 positions:
Nominating Committee: Susan Wenger, Ruth DeWitt and Patty Davis.
 Board positions: Lisa Johnson, Vice President; Terry Mihlbauer, Secretary; Danny Swim,
Board of Trustees Alternate;
 Endowment Committee: Judy Wertenberger (second 1-year term)
 The Nominating Committee is in discussions with a member for the Treasurer position.


Rachel McNett, representing the Finance Committee, presented the 2015 Budget. She noted that
after significant cuts to the budget at two different Finance Committee meetings, which included
Rev. Shelly and Congregational President Carpenter, a significant shortfall still exists. She put
forth four strategies for cutting the budget, three of which were considered quite serious: staff
cuts and closing during the summer. Feeling that these represented a step back for the
congregation, the Board chose to pursue the fourth strategy—going back to members/friends for
pledge increases before considering the other three strategies.

The redesigned Scrip program was discussed, with Kira Downey expressing frustration with
communication about the reemergence of Scrip. Kathi Weiss & Bev Brown discussed new
proposals for the Scrip program which will be presented at the November 9th Congregational
Election Meeting, along with recognition of Kira’s contributions to the Scrip program.

Toni Kring noted there has been significant progress on designing the new website and the Task
Force will be seeking proposals from website design firms. The website revamp should be done
by our Annual Congregational Meeting in March.

The Board voted on nominees for the Founders Award. The recipients will be announced at the
November 9th Congregational Election meeting.

Other news: Prior to the Board meeting, Greg Kroemer resigned from the Finance Committee and
the Board of Trustees effective October 16, 2014. Kathryn Farnsworth is now a Board of Trustee-atlarge member, replacing Greg. Given that there are only two Board meetings for the rest of the
year, the Alternate position will not be replaced.
Sincerely,
Colleen Carpenter – President, Toni Kring – Vice President, Bev Brown – Treasurer, Jim Reeder –
Secretary, Kathryn Farnsworth, Danny Swim, and Kathi Weiss
Diverse Beliefs
Beloved Community
Shared Values
Page 5
Congregational Election Meeting
Sunday, November 9, 2014
The Congregational Election Meeting of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of
Fort Wayne is Sunday, November 9, 2014 directly following the service.
The agenda for the Congregational Election meeting shall include adoption of an
annual budget and the election of Officers, Board of Trustees, an Endowment
committee member, and Nominating Committee.
Board of Trustee President: Toni Kring
 Board of Trustee Vice President: Lisa Johnson
 Board of Trustee Secretary: Terry Mihlbauer
 Board of Trustee Treasurer:
 Board of Trustee Member-at-large: Colleen Carpenter
 Board of Trustee Member-at-large: Jim Reeder
 Board of Trustee Member-at-large: Kathi Weiss
 Board of Trustee Alternate: Danny Swim
 Endowment Committee member: Judy Wertenberger
 Nominating Committee member: Patty Davis
 Nominating Committee member: Ruth deWit
 Nominating Committee member: Susan Wenger
The Board will appoint two other members prior to April 2015 to the Nominating
Committee

A quorum of 15% of all voting members is necessary in order to call the meeting to
order, so please be sure to put this important
meeting on your calendar.
The Worship Committee will host a fundraising soup lunch; childcare will be
provided.
Diverse Beliefs
Beloved Community
Shared Values
Page 6
Nurturing Our UU Future
Beyond Crayons and Coloring Books: Welcoming All
Ages into Worship
This past Sunday, October 19, the attendance of youth ages 3-17 was 27-- 15 of
which were ages 3-10. It has been really exciting to see the program grow over the
last several months. Over the summer, Reverend Misty-Dawn Shelly asked me how
Mary Lybarger, Director often and when we should offer multigenerational worship service. My answer was
every first Sunday of the month—regularly, fairly often, and at easy-to-remember
of Religious Education
intervals. This is no small feat! As a parent of a pre-k child, I recognize the task at
hand to keep our young ones interested and engaged during a full hour of a church service. The truth is that
it can be a challenge sometimes to keep Jennifer (my daughter, age 4) from throwing a fit in the first 15
minutes before the kids are sung out to their Religious Education classes. Still, the experience of sharing
worship as a family, and enjoying our Unitarian Universalist faith community as families, is so much fun and
rightly extraordinary, that the challenge was graciously accepted by Rev. Shelly.
It is this experiential understanding, combined with wisdom from my Director of Religious Education
colleagues, which inspired the development of the Worship Activity Station. Have you noticed the small
shelf outside the doors to the sanctuary? It has been a work-in-progress. I knew we had to do more than
pass out crayons and coloring books. Problems with that were: 1) Not all kids want to color; 2) there was no
hard surface to color on; 3) I want worship activities for all ages (1-110) and learning styles; and 4) Worship
activities should be related to our Unitarian Universalist faith. So, now, on the Worship Activity shelves you
will find several coloring and activity pages, such as connect-the-dots chalice, decorate the minister’s stole,
and mandalas. The bottom shelf has packs of crayons and a stack of trays for a hard surface. There are also
pipe cleaners for hands that need to move, as well as chalice finger labyrinths. During multigenerational
worship, we’ll also bring down some of the ‘works’ from the Spirit Play room.
In addition to providing worship activities to help all ages and learning styles be in worship, it is also
important for us all to know what it might look like to have children and youth in worship with us. All
children (ALL PEOPLE!) are unique and we are committed to being inclusive and welcoming to all ages—
with differing cognitive, emotional, and physical abilities.
Ages 0-3 may cry, giggle, whimper, nap, laugh, fuss, chitter-chatter, squeal, or play with small toys. They
may nurse, have a bottle, or a sippy cup. They may stay in the sanctuary with their parents or be held or
“bounced” as long as they are comfortable and content, but they may also leave midway through if they
need to move around more, be loud, or play more robustly.
Ages 4-7 may laugh, clap, and sing along with their favorite hymns, ask questions of their parents about
what is going on, and begin to recite chalice lighting words and other familiar parts of service. They may
read, play on an electronic device, or engage with worship activities during parts of service that require
sustained periods of sitting still and listening. They may talk a little loudly or wiggle a little in their seats
as they learn how to share sacred space in a community. They benefit greatly from gentle, kind reminders,
graciously given distractions, and smiles and encouraging words when they participate with others in
joyful and helpful ways. Sometimes children this age will also need to leave midway if they need to move
around more, be loud, or play more robustly.
Youth ages 8-11 might sing, clap, recite words, contribute to names shared in joys and sorrows, follow
along in order of worship, and contribute readings or other worship elements. They might sit with
parents or with friends. They may read, play on electronic devices, or use worship activities to help them
Diverse Beliefs
Beloved Community
Shared Values
Page 7
focus and remain quietly with their families during parts of service that are a bit “over their heads.” This
age often wants very much to be included and valued, and may seek out ways to contribute to and be part
of the church community. They are still learning how to adapt to the culture of church, so may still be a
bit loud or wiggly. Doubtless their parents are giving them quiet, kind reminders, and we can support
them on the journey becoming people of faith by offering our patience and acceptance.
Pre-teens and teens ages 12-17 may sit together as a group, talking quietly with one another, or sit with
families. They can contribute to service in almost all the ways that adults can: greeting, reading, singing,
lighting the chalice, ushering, offering stories during the Time for All Ages, etc. This age may occasionally
get carried away and act a bit boisterously. A good way to handle this would be to respectfully
communicate it as a concern to the DRE or RE committee chair, so that they may address it with the preteens and teens later. This age likely has well-informed and examined ideas about what it means to be
UUs, and may appreciate being included in social hour conversations about meaningful topics or asked to
help with or contribute to the vibrant life of the Fellowship. Check with parents, youth advisors, or RE
leadership if you’d like some support with this.
In the coming months I have enrolled in two faith development webinars from the UUA that will
support my professional development as your DRE and help me to help you all continue to offer new and
improved ways to worship with all ages and abilities. The first is Body/Spirit Family Spiritual Practice on
October 29: Exploring the whys and hows of encouraging spiritual practices for families at home or in your
congregation. The second is Creative Inclusion: Living into Our Radical Welcome on November 13: What can
we do to help our congregations become informed about and more comfortable with neurodiversity so that
we can more fully live our philosophy of radical welcome?
Then, on Tuesday, November 18, 7-9pm, join Rev. Shelly and me for an enrichment meeting about
offering Time for All Ages and planning and participating in Multigenerational worship services. We are
eager to share and learn together!
Worship Enrichment Workshops
Join Rev. Shelly, Mary Lybarger, our DRE, and members of the Worship Committee for two evening
workshops that will help deepen your understanding of worship and our shared pulpit. These offerings
are open to all youth and adults interested in collaborating and creating inspiring worship.
Tuesday, Nov. 18, 7-9pm: Time for All Ages & Multigenerational Worship with Mary Lybarger & Rev.
Shelly. Register for this workshop with the office by Sunday Nov. 16th. Questions, speak with Mary or
Rev. Shelly.
Thursday, Dec. 4, 7-9pm: The Shared Pulpit: Creating lay-led worship services led by Rev. Shelly.
Register for this workshop with the office by Sunday, Nov. 30.
Diverse Beliefs
Beloved Community
Shared Values
Page 8
Mark your Calendars for This Important Collaboration
(view a clip by clicking on the movie)
UUCFW and the Temple Achduth Vesholom, in
partnership, are presenting the film Two Who Dared:
The Sharp’s War on Sunday, April 19, 2015, 2-5pm at
the downtown Allen County Public Library Theatre,
in conjunction with Yom Hashoah.
For their work in Nazi-occupied Czechoslovakia and Vichy France, the Unitarian
minister, Waitstill Sharp, and his wife, Martha, were recognized as Righteous Among
the Nations at Yad Vashem - the highest recognition accorded by the state of Israel to
non-Jews who risked their lives to save Jews during World War II. They are two of
only three Americans to be so honored. This film that recounts their heroic story is in
the process of being remade into a PBS event. Proceeds from our showing of the film
will contribute to that production and move it closer to being aired on PBS stations.
Two Who Dared will be shown at the downtown library theater between 2 and 5pm on
Sunday, April 19, and will include a reception and a talk-back panel. Peter Braunfeld,
Holocaust survivor from Champaign, IL, will participate in the talk-back. He will
also be the featured speaker for Yom Hashoah for the Temple on April 20.
There will also be an art competition/show for middle and high school students held
during weeks prior to Yom Hashoah. The art show theme is Mourning the
Holocaust and Genocide: Past and Present, and will hang in the Wunderkammer
gallery from March 21-April 20. Susan Wenger and Judy Wertenberger have been
working with the Temple to publicize and organize the art show.
We will be looking for volunteers for this event, but most of all, we’ll be looking for
participants. This is a wonderful opportunity to commemorate and celebrate the long
history of compassion and collaboration between UUs and the Jewish community.
We will offer a 90 minute workshop on the topic on Sunday, April 12 ,after morning
worship. So, mark your calendars for the workshop and the film.
Beloved Community
Diverse Beliefs
Shared Values
Page 9
The Finance Committee has been diligently working on the 2015
budget. There are some final things to look at and it will then go
to the Board of Trustees for review. Once the Board approves the
budget, it will then be presented to the Congregation at the
November 9th Congregational Meeting.
In terms of September results, our year-to-date income continues
to exceed the year-to-date budget amount by about $13,000.
While this is very good, we have to remember that there are still 3
months left in the year that we need to get through. On the
expense side, we are currently running about $10,000 in year-to-date expenses vs. year-to-date
budgeted. This is due, in part, to charges for travel, lodging, etc. for GA, as well as the repair to
2 windows in the area outside both the Admin Suite and Choir Room. And, don’t forget (as
much as we’d like to) the overabundance of snowfall last winter that resulted in higher than
anticipated costs for snow removal.
Generally speaking we are on good standing for this time of the year; however, the gap
between income and expense, while still positive, is closer than in prior months. We will need
to be very diligent in monitoring both income and expenses. In doing so, and if the last quarter
of the year equals or exceeds the same time period last year, we should end up the year on a
positive note.
Greg Kroemer
Finance Chairperson
Beverly Brown
Treasurer
Wheel of Life
In Memoriam
Scott Mertz, Greg Kroemer, and their family are grieving the death of
their father, Bill Mertz
Dee Koehl and her family are grieving the death of their mother, Irene
Koehl
Celebrating October Birthdays
Greg Kroemer, Robyn Valdizón, Parker Angelos, Zac Thorn, Raj Chowdhury, Susan Wenger, Ruth
Langhinrichs
Celebrating October Anniversaries
John & Hope Sheehan, Raj & Janette Chowdhury, and Jenna Gervasi & Rev. Misty-Dawn Shelly. Of
special note: Cynthia & Ed Powers celebrated their 55th year together in October.
In Recognition Of
Emily Schwartz Keirns and her Marathon of Good (marathon race date Nov. 8)
Beloved Community
Diverse Beliefs
Shared Values
Page 10
The Gatekeepers
(view a clip by clicking on the movie)
The Gatekeepers is an unprecedented look inside Israel’s Secret Service.
For the first time ever, six former heads of the Secret Service, Shin Bet,
share their insights and reflect publicly on their actions and decisions
over the years. Charged with overseeing Israel’s war on terror, the
head of Shin Bet is present at the crossroads of every major decision
made by the Israeli government. The Gatekeepers offers an exclusive
account of the sum of their successes and failures. It validates the
reasons that each man individually and the six as a group came to
reconsider their positions and advocate a conciliatory approach
toward their enemies based on a two-state solution. The Gatekeepers
was a 2012 nominee for an Academy Award for Best Documentary
film and earned numerous other documentary.
November Social Action
Third Sunday Collection
Ghana Sewing School Project
Attendance & Giving Records
Our certified membership as of 02/01/14
is 123
Our current membership, as of 07/20/14,
is 125
October’s average weekly attendance: 60.5
Our October Third Sunday Collection
benefited The Carriage House. Half of the
loose cash totaled $89.13.
Thank you for your continuing support of
our Third Sunday Collections!
Wellspring Food Pantry Needs
The latest needs from the Wellspring Food
Pantry include:

chili without beans

kidney beans

canned hash

canned green beans

canned corn

dry milk

oatmeal

cereal

canned fruit

oil

deodorant

feminine products (tampons & sanitary
napkins)
Diverse Beliefs
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Shared Values
Page 11
Mission-Vision Café
Sign up for Mission-Vision
Café Conversations
We need YOU for the Mission/Vision Café
Conversations!
Three hours: Nov. 23, at the Meetinghouse.
Shape our future. Signup online or on the
sheet in the Gallery.
Beverages with Board or, this
time around, Dessert &
Discussion (cheesecake!),
Tuesday, Nov. 11, 7-9pm. Kathi
Weiss and Kathryn Farnsworth are
your hosts.
Copyright: http://www.123rf.com/profile_abluecup
Sisters Over Seventy (SOS)
Thursday, November 13, 10:30 AM, here
at the Meetinghouse
Safe Space Workshops!
At the beginning of our services we recognize that we are a “Welcoming
Congregation” and that “we promote acceptance, inclusion, and equity to those who
identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender”. To strengthen our commitment
to our inclusivity and to build a common knowledge base, the Board invites all
UUCFW members and friends to attend a free 1-hour Safe Space workshop in the
next few months (the Board itself attended a 2-hour version of this workshop on Sept 14th). The
workshop guides attendees through LGBTQ terminology, recent events, and developing affirming ally
skills. The workshops will be held both at UUCFW and the Temple next door. Please plan on attending
ONE of the four sessions at either congregation. Please sign up at this link or on the sign-up sheet in the
gallery.
Sunday, Nov. 16 - 9:30-10:30 a.m. @ UUCFW
Tuesday, Dec. 2 - 6:30-7:30 p.m. @ The Temple
Monday, Feb. 23 - 7:00 - 8:00 p.m. @ UUCFW
Sunday, March 1 - 1:00-2:00 p.m. @ The Temple
Beloved Community
Diverse Beliefs
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Gratitude for MidAmerica Region and Its Former Districts
by Kathy Burek & Amy Taylor
(Kathy Burek was President of Prairie Star District from July 1, 2010 to
present. Amy Taylor was President of Heartland District from November
2010 to June 30, 2013. Both served on the Regional Transition Team and
on the MidAmerica Board for the first year of the Region.)
Kathy
It is time for us to move on to other things, but we want to
say THANK YOU for so many things. Thank you for your
trust and your willingness to live into the unknown and to
carry a vision forward of what can be done together. Thank
you for your honesty, your truthful responses and your
shared wisdom as we worked on regionalization.
Amy
We have had the privilege of working with, to quote a consultant, “very high
functioning Boards”. We have known the joy of having the right talent, in the right
place, at the right time and having these people unselfishly committed to the work of
regionalization and continuing to run the Districts at the same time. Please continue to
support and send people to Leadership School and provide leadership training for your
youth and adult members. Volunteering for this faith is a gift given and for us has
been an unexpected gift received.
We have had the privilege of working with a courageous staff that supported us, no
matter what we explored, no matter how it pushed their comfort levels, entertaining
possibilities of creating something beyond any previous visions, creating together.
We are officially no longer trustees on the MidAmerica Board but we feel confident that
the current MA Board will vision things we couldn’t see and work with staff and you to
create a region of interconnected UUs in covenant with each other, changing the world.
We are powerful individually but even greater together. Assuming goodwill, working in
cooperation, tackling hard questions, we have done things as Districts and as a Region
that others thought impossible. Let’s live our vision:
The MidAmerica Region: Building a New Era in Unitarian Universalism
where UUs:

Visibly live our faith

Create connections

Grow our membership

Welcome all persons who share our UU values
Beloved Community
Diverse Beliefs
Shared Values
Are you interested in serving on a particular committee? If yes, contact the chair directly.
Religious Education Committees
Congregational Ministry Department
Congregational Ministry Chair
Ed Powers ([email protected])
Worship Committee
Kira Downey
([email protected])
Congregational Music Committee
Dee Koehl
([email protected])
Hospitality
Edith Helbert
([email protected]) and
Beth Jamieson
([email protected])
Publicity
Member Services Department
Board Liaison Kathi Weiss
Membership Committee
Rachel McNett
([email protected])
Care Committee
Visitation Coordinator
Toni Kring
([email protected])
Cards & Calls Coordinators
Patty Davis
([email protected])
Cynthia Powers
([email protected])
Memorial Services
Jacqueline Moore
([email protected]) and
Kathi Weiss
([email protected])
Stewardship Department
Board Liaison Bev Brown
Adult RE
Rebecca Reeder
([email protected])
Finance Committee
Youth RE
Evan Davis
([email protected])
Endowment & Planned Giving
Judy Wertenberger
([email protected])
Building & Grounds Department
Board Liaison Jim Reeder
Building & Grounds Coordinator
Edie Stoneking
([email protected])
Memorial Garden
John Moore
([email protected])
Social Action & Service Department
Board Liaison Colleen Carpenter
Social Action
In need of a chair
Langhinrichs Gallery
Cathie Rowand
([email protected])
Fun
Romeos contact
John Moore
([email protected])
Sisters in Good Company
Cathie Rowand
([email protected])
Sisters Over Seventy
Ann McKenna
Fundraising
Betty Carroll
([email protected]) &
Kathryn Farnsworth
([email protected])
Annual Pledge Drive
(for Fiscal Year 2015)
Dennis Shipley
([email protected])
Committee on Ministry
Norm Newman
([email protected])
nUUz
The Langhinrichs Gallery is featuring
Unitarian Universalist Congregation
5310 Old Mill Road
Fort Wayne, IN 46807-3017
Next nUUz article deadline:
11/20/2014
Love is the spirit of this church …
Visit our website at:
http://uufortwayne.org
Follow us on Twitter
@uufortwayne

Gratitude Reflection, pg. 3

Board update, pg. 4

Annual Congregational
Election notice, pg. 5

Two Who Dared, pg. 6

The Gatekeepers, pg. 10

Safe Space training, pg. 11
… and so much more!
Works of
Appleseed Art Quilt Bee