What Does It Mean To Be a People of Revelation? Every UU out

3024 Cooley Road | Canandaigua, NY 14424 | 585 -396-1370 | http://canandaiguauu.org
What Does It Mean
To Be a People of Revelation?
Rev. Kaaren Anderson
Lead Minister
April 2015
Sermons
April 5
Rev. Marcus & Emily, Sarah
April 12
Rev. David Blanchard
April 19
Rev. Kaaren Anderson
April 26
Earth Day Celebration
For more info, visit
http://www.uucc.us
Every UU out there agrees: to be a "people of
revelation" in our liberal tradition means first and
foremost to be a people of humility. Revelation is not
sealed. It is on-going and spread out all over the place.
Nobody has cornered the market. Nobody has captured it
whole cloth. All each of us, and each of our religions, can
do is know a piece of the truth. And so we are called to be
humble. Humble and open. Open to other perspectives.
Open to new insights. Open to a diversity of perspectives
and insights.
But an openness to otherness and diversity is very
different than an openness to being led, being guided,
being called. It is one thing to affirm the wisdom of other
perspectives; it is quite another to affirm the existence and
importance of otherness!
This is how Parker Palmer, the Quaker teacher
beloved by many UUs puts it:
Before you tell your life
what you intend to do with it
listen for what it intends to do with you
before you tell your life
what truth and values
you have decided to live up to
let your life tell you what truths you embody
and what values you represent
People of
Revelation cont’d
Short
word
from the
Board
This requires a whole different sense of being
humble and open to otherness! Forget celebrating diverse
perspectives and multiple sources of wisdom. This is
about Life speaking! To us! Take a moment to let that
sink in. It's a radical idea. We are not the only ones doing
the talking. Imagine that!
Imagine that Life itself actually “wants” something
for us and from us. Imagine that it's not all about us
choosing and being in control, but instead about us
listening, and looking, and letting ourselves be led. This
too is what it means to be a people of revelation.
Indeed if our UU theologians are right, we are
dependent on this being true. Here’s how the preeminent
UU theologian James Luther Adams put it:
"We cannot properly place our confidence in our
own creations; we must depend upon a transforming
reality that breaks through our encrusted forms of life and
thought to create new forms. We put our faith in a creative
reality that is re-creative. Revelation is continuous.”
So humility indeed. Humility to admit we get stuck
in "encrusted forms." Humility to admit that we can't see
or breakout of those stuck ways of being all on our own.
Humility to trust that there is an otherness – a
confounding, mysterious, maybe conscious, maybe notconscious otherness-- operating out there and in us that
we need.
And so, do you trust it? Do you trust that Life itself
is trying to tell you something important? Lead you
somewhere important? Get you to see or do something
important?
This month, we’ll find out.
. . . In faith, Rev. Kaaren
We are moving ahead with a feasibility study for
renovating our building with Insite Architecture. In the
coming weeks we will be asking our various committees
to discuss the needs they see in our physical building and
ask representatives to meet with the architect as he gathers
the information needed. Unfortunately, we have been
unable to procure additional land and are limited to our
existing site as we move forward with building options.
. . . from Kerry Graf
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Healthy
Congregations
Dear Friends,
In February, I preached on the convenantal
foundation and nature of our UU faith.
The focus of my message is that without a creed to
guide us theologically, our faith elevates our promise and
connection to one another as the foundation of our hopes
as a congregation and our desires for the future.
Our covenant is a combination of our values, and
our aspirations to be our best selves in the world, and with
each other.
I believe covenant is essential as we move forward
together into the future. That is why I chose to preach
about covenant and to develop a Healthy Congregation
Team at our church. It will help all of us understand how
covenant, our relationships with one another and our
church, and helps us step into the future with the best
tools available.
Much research has been done on what makes a
congregation healthy, nimble and responsive to a
changing world. We are using that research and proven
track records within other UU congregations to develop
our Healthy Congregation Teams and Programs.
Members of our teams were chosen for their
backgrounds and reputations: Individuals who are well
respected by other church members, have a personal
presence of equanimity, some experience in counseling or
mediation, and do not serve in other major leadership
roles and/or on staff are the best choices. Our team
consists of Laura Wink (a member of both congregations),
Edgar Brown and Lynn Overgaard.
They received training by Rev. Roger Bertschausen
from Fox Valley UU Fellowship in Appleton, Wisconsin.
Roger is a nationwide leader in this field.
As lead minister, I oversee this team, but have
asked Rev. Tina Simson to act as their advisor, especially
as they implement the program in both congregations.
Our team will offer educational sessions – Sunday, April
12 and May 3 after worship- in which they will inform
members what creates a healthy congregation and how
each of us has a part.
In these sessions they will also look to members for
input on what’s needed in an effective and living
covenant, one that we can each support.
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Healthy
Congregations
Cont’d
From your input and their expertise in this work,
they will craft a covenant. This will become a living
document that guides our aspirations and our behavior,
and elevates our
connection to one another and to our church. We will
integrate this covenant into our leadership meetings, our
new member orientations, our small groups and
committee meetings.
When we come together in September we will ask
all members to support our covenant and to elevate this
important vow we hold as friends and members of this
beloved community.
. . . Yours, Rev. Kaaren
2nd Sunday Potluck
April 12, 2015
Every 2nd Sunday, following the service
UUs can enjoy delicious food and great
conversation.. Everyone is welcome. Bring one of
your favorite dishes to share.
Pledge & Capital
Campaign
Dear UUCC friendsI am hoping you got a chance to hear the pledge
and capital campaign sermon on March 22nd last Sunday.
If you didn’t, I’d encourage you to give it a read. You can
email me at: [email protected] I’m happy to send
it to you.
Our next steps as a congregation ride in
many ways on our success with this endeavor. That said,
the sooner we can get our pledges in for both the Annual
Budget Drive and for the Capital campaign the better. I’d
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Pledge & Capital
Campaign cont’d
like to wrap this up in about a month so we can work with
the architect to get the ball rolling. I do want you to make
note that I’m hoping your contribution to the capital
campaign does not pilfer from your yearly pledge to
operations at our church. Without the operational
support, the capital project is almost for naught. If you
were at the Roots and Wings sessions you’ve heard this
little pitch already, if not, I just wanted to clarify that
point.
I am including a copy of the brochure in electronic
form. Further, if it is just easier for you to email in your 3
year pledge and capital contribution per the instructions
on the brochure please feel free to do so directly to Kristin
Keyes, our church administrator at [email protected]
or to me at [email protected]
I hope you know how honored I am to be your
minister at this pivotal and inspiring time.
. . . In faith and love, Rev. Kaaren
New books are out along with the old favorites at
the UUA bookstore UUA Bookstore.org. If you attend
District meetings, General Assembly, or other gatherings
you will usually find samplings of UUA’s terrific book
selection for all ages. This abstract is for Tom Montgomery
Fate’s book Cabin Fever, just out this year.
Try to imagine Thoreau married, with a job, three kids, and a
minivan. This is the sensibility—serious yet irreverent—that suffuses
Cabin Fever, as the author seeks to apply the hermit-philosopher’s
insights to a busy modern life. Tom Montgomery Fate lives in a
Chicago suburb, where he is a husband, father, professor, and active
member of his community. He also lives in a cabin built with the help
of friends in the Michigan woods, where he walks by the river, chops
wood, and reads Thoreau by candlelight. Fate seeks a more attentive,
deliberate way of seeing the world and our place in it, not only in the
woods but also in the context of our relationships and society. In his
search for “a more deliberate life” amid a high-tech, material world,
Fate invites readers into an interrogation of their own lives, and into a
new kind of vision: the possibility of enough in a culture of more.
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Religious
Education
Social Justice
Membership
Join us on Easter Sunday, April 5th, as we host our
annual Easter Egg hunt! Adult volunteers will be needed
to hide the eggs and kids will be needed to find them. But
all are welcome to observe the fun in our church backyard.
Let's all hope and pray that the weather cooperates. But
since Easter is earlier than last year, please bring your
coats.
On April 12th, following our potluck, we will have
our monthly Home Matters group. Please let Sarah know
if you and your family plan to attend. We will be looking
more closely into the theme of Revelation. What has been
revealed to you and your family? What revelations have
shaped you to this point? We'll talk about these and more
at Home Matters and downstairs in RE for the month of
April.
Last month we gave $117 to Interfaith Impact of
New York State. This month will be giving away our
collection plate on April 12th to Herb Haven, a program
of the non-profit of Seeking Common Ground. The Herb
Haven program helps provide a way for women and
children to break the cycle of poverty and work toward
self-sufficiency. Please also bring non-perishable goods
that same Sunday for our offering toward the Gleaner's
Community Kitchen.
The Social Justice team will meet with Rev. Emily
following our potluck on April 12th. Please join us with
your ideas and enthusiasm as we seek to better ourselves
and serve our communities.
We are introducing some new members on Sunday
April 5th. Please give them an extra special welcome this
month! And don't miss our Easter Egg hunt after the
service!
Later in April, UUCC will host a multi-generational
game night again this year. All are welcome-- seniors,
young folks, families with children and everyone in
between or in none of those categories. Please join us from
5-8PM on April 24th for games, food, and fun. Kindly
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Membership cont’d
RSVP to Sarah is you plan on attending so we can have
enough dinner to share. And feel free to bring your own
games, although we'll have some to start us off!
. . . from Sarah Gillespie
Meditation
Green Sanctuary
”For a
Better World”
Tuesday Meditation is offering a basic introduction
meditation class Tuesdays at 7:00 p.m. led by Scoby Beer.
We are in the midst of an introductory class that is useful
for beginners and repeats. You are welcome to attend. If
you have questions, please contact Ken Hutton at (585)
869-9578.
. . . from Ken Hutton
Did you ever wonder "WHO Puts the Food on
YOUR Table?" Please join us on Saturday, April 4, 2015
at 7PM at UUCA as renowned writer and reporter, Tom
Rivers, shares his 'behind the scene' view of how food
gets to our table. Through a slide presentation, he'll show
us just what it takes to be a farmworker. His book, Farm
Hands will be available for purchase and signing afterward. Also, find out about our CSA! Refreshments and
child care will be available.
(Pleae note our 'First Friday' event for April is rolled
over to Saturday for the month of April.)
Bring Your Own Bag NY has been invited back to
Hobart and William Smith Colleges to participate in the
campus farmers market. We will have the plastic bag
dress, give away reuseable shopping bags, produce bags
will be for sale ($.50) and literature. The date is April 24. If
you would like to be a part of this event contact Judy
Cadle at 315.719.4099.
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Ordination
Ceremony
UUCC and First U have begun the happy process
of planning Sarah Gillespie's ordination ceremony
scheduled for Saturday, May 30th at 11:00 o'clock at First
U. Please mark your calendars for this important service.
Also, UUCC will be hosting a supper Friday, May
29th at 6:00 pm for Sarah's family and guests. This is
being organized by Sarah's UUCC Soul Matters Group. If
you would like to help with food, set up/clean up,
greeting/ushering for either of these two events, your
participation would be greatly appreciated.
For further information, contact: Joan Berend [email protected] - (585) 393-0239 or
Charlotte Clarke - [email protected] - (585)
377-0549
Partner Church
Ever curious what's happening at our partner
church, First Unitarian of Rochester? Please check out
their weekly connections and get to know our neighbors
to the north.
Here’s are links to a March YouTube video.
Videos & YouTube
March 8, 2015 Rev. Kaaren Anderson's sermon at UUCC
on, "Evolution, the Environment and Human
Resilience". http://youtu.be/hh0xdTpdpwE
March 15, Rev. David Blanchard's sermon at UUCC on
Resilience. http://youtu.be/oUWz47rkNo0
Other past sermons can be found on YouTube by
searching: UUCC, Unitarian, Universalist, Canandaigua,
and the speaker's name.
. . . from Dan Brigham
Dan Brigham and his team make sure UUCC has a video of
each Sunday’s service. The videos are kept in the library just west of
the coffee pot and can be signed out any time you want to catch up or
review.
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Contacts
Be In The Know!
Ministers:
Rev. Kaaren Anderson (Worship)
585.709.9204
[email protected]
Rev. Emily Harnet Liefert
(Social Justice and Religious Education)
585-209-0067
[email protected]
Rev. Marcus Liefert
(Pastoral Care and Religious Education)
585.209.3361
[email protected]
Rev. David S. Blanchard
315-427-3339 [email protected]
Ministerial Intern
Sarah Gillespie
[email protected]
Director of Music
Bill Mehls 585.396.1032
[email protected]
Board President
Kerry Graff
[email protected]
Board Vice President
(not filled)
Administrator
Kristin Keyes
Office Hours Thursday 5:15 to 6:45pm
[email protected]
Lay Worship:
Kathy Keller 315.548.9059
[email protected]
The Chalice
Judy Cadle 315.719.4099
[email protected]
(Chalice mail only please)
There are many ways to connect with UUCC to
learn about our news and events:
UUCC online: Visit our website
at www.CanandaiguaUU.org
UUCC newsletter: Send an email
to [email protected] to be added to the
mailing list, or read the newsletters online at
http://canandaiguauu.org/newsletter/
UUCC on Yahoo Groups: Send an email to
([email protected]) and let us know
you are interested in joining the group. You can
also join by visiting
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/uucc_announceme
nts/
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@CanandaiguaUU
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Unitarian Universalist of Canandaigua
Chalice April, 2015
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