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Minnesota Valley
Unitarian Universalist Fellowship
A liberal religious congregation in the Minneapolis area If the Menu on the Left Hasn't Appeared |
| FELLOWSHIP
NEWS Home | Calendar Updated December 21 2011 |
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Though the story is probably apocryphal, Sigmund Freud is often quoted as saying that families are “seething cauldrons of pathology.” If he did say it, we will assume Dr. Freud was having a particularly bad day beside his couch. The quote has stuck, though, because all of us have had those sorts of days with family. We do well to remember that while for many the term “family” calls up warm feelings, for others, it brings a chill. On a recent Sunday morning I mentioned that I believe a congregation is essentially different from a family, which startled some people. Yes, it is true that spiritual communities often serve the purpose of families. They are families of another sort, however. For the most part, we don’t choose our families. Spiritual communities, however—at least Unitarian Universalist spiritual communities—are places we choose to be when we could be somewhere else. They are places we go even though we don’t have to go there. Since MVUUF is a place we go intentionally, we implicitly agree to be intentional about our actions while we are in the community of MVUUF. That’s why we have an agreement, a covenant, which includes these words: |
Information on Minister Office Hours - Minister Links to Minister's Sermons |
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During these cold winter days, I encourage parents to ask about what their child is learning in his/her class. One of the parents I talked to recently said, “I would love to take these classes.” Showing interest, sharing information and exploring new topics together is a wonderful way to connect with your child. While interacting with your child you confirm that these religious topics are important. Throughout the years I have heard parents say that one of the reasons they are here is for their child’s religious education. To get the most out of the program the children need to be here as often as possible. While most of the lessons are stand-alone, there is continuity to what is offered in each group. The children get to know each other better and feel much more comfortable if they can connect with the other children every week. I know that everyone’s lives are very busy and children get sick but in order to build a sense of community one has to be an active participant in the group. I encourage you to think seriously about what it means to be part of the religious education program and how your children can reap the most benefits. The Senior High will be doing the Sunday Service on February 19th. The topic is Generation Net: Growing Up Digital and How the Internet Affects Our Daily Lives. The youth of our congregation share their views on events and issues that affect our world, our state, and our community. Today we will focus on our generation—GenNet—and how we are affected by the internet and technology. The Secret Friends breakfast is Sunday February 19th at 8:45 am. I hope you and your children are enjoying getting to know others better. Please sign up to bring something for the breakfast itself. |
DRE Biography DRE Office Hours |
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As I think about MVUUF I am constantly inspired by the caring nature of our community and the thoughtfulness of our members. We look out for each other and reach out to each other. This past year several of our members suffered the loss of loved ones and others battled serious health issues. The caring nature of our community was evident in the support we provided to those of us who experienced these difficult situations. We also don’t limit our good works to our members. Through our second Sunday offering and all our good works we have a much needed and positive impact on our community. Everyone is very busy these days and working hard to make our own ends meet, but there never seems to be a shortage of people willing to organize, participate in or contribute to a worthy cause that our members have passion for. We are a caring community and we strive to live our values. We have a lot to be thankful for. Top of Page |
MVUUF Board of Trustees - Who, What WITHIN, AMONG, BEYOND .. |
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February 5, 2012: Children's Choir On Sunday, February 5 at 11:45 a.m., Sarah Ann Post and Mary Koehler will introduce a song to the children's choir. They are inviting all kids who like to sing and this song will be sung at Music Sunday, March 18. Rehearsals will continue every Sunday at 11:45 in the Sanctuary. February 12, 2012: Music to Warm the Heart We hope to see you all at our concert Sunday afternoon, Febebruary 12th at 4 p.m. We are calling it “Music to Warm the Heart”. More details will emerge as the date draws closer but put it on your calendars! Sunday services in February will feature music performed by Steve Koehler, Betty Olson, Samantha Crashell, the choir, the chorale, and others. If you, youngster or adult, wish to share your talents with the fellowship, please don’t be shy – we’d love to hear you. Contact me at music@mnvalleyuu.org Our next musical event will be Music Sunday, March 18, when all members of the fellowship are invited to perform. And, following that will be the Big Event coupled with the Service Auction, April 21; start thinking about what you can contribute to the auction! Top of Page |
Minister of Music Biography To Music Page Minister of Music Celebration Music Committee |
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Newcomer Orientation / Path to Membership If you are interested in learning more about Unitarian Universalism and more specifically our own Minnesota Valley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, attend some of our Sunday morning pre-service 9:15 – 10:15 am discussions. Typically they are held in the Fireside Room upstairs. The topics vary and childcare is now available. (Plus as an additional benefit, you will be able to find a spot in the parking lot on Sunday morning.) All who attend and take part in the various activities at MVUUF are considered valued members of our congregation. However, to become a registered and voting member of our congregation and thus entitled to all the advantages that go with that status, we ask that you either attend our monthly membership classes to learn what that means or talk to Membership Chair Nancy Buckman. Ultimately, you will be asked to fill out a “Membership Form” and a pledge card. On Sunday, February 26 the discussion at 9:15 am will be “Let’s get to know each other. How and why did you / we come to UU?” Then on Sunday March 25 the discussion at 9:15 am will be “Nuts and Bolts of Membership at MVUUF – What is required and what are the advantages and responsibilities of membership”. Signup sheets are on the counter in the downstairs hallway. Welcome Our Visitors Typically, when visitors come to MVUUF, they are greeted at the table in the entryway as they come in, asked to sign a visitor card and given a generic nametag. Also, visitors are encouraged to introduce themselves during the service. Please introduce yourselves to them and make them feel welcomed! We sometimes get newcomers who bypass the table and / or don’t feel comfortable standing during the service to introduce themselves. If you become aware and recognize that someone is a newcomer and you have made them feel welcomed, please point them out to the Membership Committee as we are eager to touch base with them and build on the positive impression you’ve already created . Top of Page |
If Your Postal or Email Address Has Changed. Some Easy Ways To Get Involved At MVUUF |
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The MVUUF library has recently received some very generous donations from members. Of particular interest are the many religious reference books Scott Werdal gave us as a permanent loan. These include a fabulous collection of nearly all of existentialist Paul Tillich's books! Scott also donated the Interpreter's Dictionary of the Bible. & IDB Concordance as well as A History of Lutherans and Religion. Thanks, Scott! We also have a donation of several books including ones on the Druids, Earthway: A Native American Visionary's Path to Total Mind, Body, and Spirit Health by Mary Summer Rain and the Oxford Dictionary of World Religions. The books in the MVUUF library are available for loan. Just sign the book out and return it within a week or two. (03/07) A film series Nonviolent Conflict: A Force More Powerful" is available in our fellowship library. It was purchased for a just completed Adult Religious Education class to study Strategic Nonviolent Action. The class concluded that SNVA isn't appropriate for every conflict, but it has the potential to be successful in more situations than we had previously realized. The two tapes contain six 30-minute segments on the use of strategic nonviolent conflict in the American civil rights struggles of the 1960's; the independence struggles of Gandhi and his followers in India in the 1930's; the struggles against apartheid in South Africa in the 1980's; the resistance movement during the German occupation of Denmark in the 1940's; the Polish Solidarity movement in the 1980's; and the nonviolent overthrow of Augusto Pinochet in Chile in 1988. The tapes are appropriate family viewing for teenagers and their parents. For more information on the tapes and on strategic nonviolent action in the 21st century see A Force More Powerful, The Albert Einstein Institution, and International Center on Nonviolent Conflict. New Books in the Library 10/06: Marilyn Boe has donated a compilation of her poetry to our library. The MVUUF library has received two new book donations that are sure to be wonderful additions. The first is Living with Chronic Pain: the complete health guide to the causes and treatment of chronic pain by noted pain specialist Jennifer P. Schneider, M.D., Ph.D. It offers expert advice and guidance in everyday language on symptoms, causes, and treatments. The second book is The Gifts of Caregiving: stories of hardship, hope, and healing by Connie Goldman. This book has conversations with more than thirty caregivers, including Dana Reeve (wife of actor Christopher Reeve) and Rosalynn Carter. Please stop by the library shelves in the Fellowship Hall to check out one of our new books. Books in lending library:
Video tapes, all with printed study guides. Many thanks to Floyd Olson for giving us the following .
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MVUUF Social Justice Library |
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The newly formed Aesthetics Committee soon discovered that all those bare white walls pleading for tasteful decoration out numbered the available dollars in the budget and would require some nimble and creative thinking. The very large wall opposite the entry doors posed a special challenge. Finding a hefty piece of artwork that would make an immediate statement of who we are in a dramatic and attractive manner seemed prohibitively expensive until Karen Olson came up with her brilliant idea - a wall hanging that would literally bear the hand print of each of our members, with a chalice as its centerpiece. Karen chose the fabrics, painstakingly sewed them together and povided the dye baths for each member to make his/her imprint on the banner. It was a big mess, and a big success, and has since greeted members and visitors alike as they walk through the front doors of our building each Sunday morning. Our entryway banner is an especially meaningful work of art. Long may it wave. By Jan Wolff Aesthetics Committee: aka MVUUF Style Police? The MVUUF Aesthetics Committee does many jobs around the church building. The most enjoyable are hanging artwork, decorating for the holidays and arranging flowers. The hardest job is making sure our building is attractive. The Aesthetics Committee has been charged by the Steering Committee to choose or approve all furnishings for the entire building (excluding the RE classrooms.) Simply put, when anything comes into the building that will be put up for display (excluding bulletin board items) or will be a permanent addition, the Aesthetics Committee should be consulted. Although we’d prefer not to be known as MVUUF Style Police, our goal is to try to keep the building looking good and at the same time, help committees promote their projects. On January 21, 2004, the Aesthetics Committee recommended to the Steering Committee that no sales or promotions take place in the entry level of the building. This recommendation came after many voiced their dismay at the appearance of the entry. The Steering Committee authorized the Aesthetics Committee to set the policy. This policy was not widely publicized outside of the Steering Committee, but as our MVUUF population grows and becomes more active, our members need to know about how to best promote their projects. Prior to that decision, the entry often became congested with sales tables and sign ups. There was the concern that newcomers and visitors would feel as though they had walked into K-Mart! This has not always been a popular decision - MVUUF committees are passionate about their causes and want to share their enthusiasm with everyone. Committees often feel that the best way to promote a cause is for people to see it as soon as they enter the building; there is concern that the impact of their ideas will be lost in the congestion of the lower level. The Aesthetics Committee, then, tries to balance requests for displays upstairs and down. The white board was purchased to direct members to sales, displays and committee projects. We try to maintain safe exits and prevent congestion. We try to give equal space to committee projects both upstairs and down. We try to respect the dignity of the space outside the sanctuary - it can get to be a juggling act! This article was written to thank committees that check with the Aesthetics Committee before putting up a display and as a reminder that there is a policy regarding placement of tables, easels, posters, items for sale and art work at MVUUF. So far, the MVUUF Style Police has not had to write any citations this year and we’d like to keep it that way! Top of Page |
Flowers for Sunday Morning Services  |
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Two other helpful websites are Minnesota Seniors Online and Minnesota Help.info I want to welcome Jan Wolff to the Laity Caring Committee. Thanks, Jan for your help. Thanks to all of you who support one another. We all are part of Laity Caring. What does the Laity Caring Committee do? The committee sends cards out to members and friends of the fellowship who have expressed a joy, concern or sorrow. When the committee hears of a need for temporary help with meals, transportation, childcare or other needs, it looks at the Laity Caring Network Volunteer Forms which many of you have filled out. From these forms the committee can ask people to help out depending on what they volunteer to help with. Thank you for filling out this form. Extra forms are downstairs on the green counter or you can get the form here (pdf). Many of you help each other out without needing assistance from the committee. That is what the Laity Caring Committee is all about. All of you are a part of the committee when you help and care for one another. Another way to show you care is to take a look at the folder downstairs on the green counter marked Laity Caring. In it you will find forms to help you fill out your Health Care Directive for your loved ones and from our minister a form titled MVUUF Confidential Life Crisis File form. This form is for our minister who is the only one who has access to it and is kept in the ministers locked files. Take time to check out these important forms. It can be difficult to think about end of life issues, but it sure would be helpful for our loved ones. Top of Page Micro-Loan Program and Minister's Discretionary Fund MVUUF has two funding programs available for its members. The first is the Micro-Loan Program. Under the supervision of the minister and with assistance from the chair of the Laity Caring Committee, the maximum amount for the program is $75.00, with no restrictions on how the funds are used. (The request for the loan is made to the minister and is completely confidential.) While there is a clear expectation that members pay back the loan, no specific time table or deadline is assigned. (We recognize these loans are for a small amount, but may help offset emergency needs.) In addition, MVUUF members may make donations to the micro-loan program. For further information on donating funds, please see either Rev. David Breeden or Karen Schaub.. The minister also has at his disposal a discretionary fund, which allows him to issue emergency funds to members. No repayment of these funds is expected. The minister may work with the member to seek out other possible solutions and/or resources prior to issuing the funds. See Rev. David Breeden with questions or requests. Top of Page |
Laity Caring Network Volunteer Form |
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Our 40th Anniversary History Book tells the story of Ginny Christiansen volunteering to design landscaping for our new, altered property IN 2002. Ginny, who has a Landscaping Design Certificate from Dakota County Voctech, selected materials that reflect our location on the prairie and supervised the planting. Phyllis Fairman kept a record of the original plant materials, which can be seen in our 3-ring-binder garden book, and many enjoyable photographs of those hardy volunteers preparing the landscaping for what has become a beautiful garden are also in the book. Ginny moved away from Minnesota for several years and, in her absence, our topography blossomed through the weeding efforts of fellowship members Roberta Haskin, Monica Williams, Rebecca McPeek and Beth Smith and a lot of necessary watering by Denny Kroger. Also, Alicia Williams obtained a Wildlife Protection Area designation by the Audubon Society. In 2005, Becky asked the MVUUF Women’s Group for financial support for the Peace Site registration, Peace Pole installation and garden materials and, together, they made it happen. MVUUF is the first church in Bloomington to become a Peace Site. Our talented gardeners are all mindful of the three memorials contained in the garden: 1) a blue, wooden chair, purchased by Ginny in memory of Clarissa, daughter of Linda Hayen. (The wooden chair had to be replaced, and done so by Becky, because it literally fell apart from the weather elements.) 2) A memory plaque honoring Clay Wallen who donated $50,000 toward a new building. 3) A memory plaque honoring Anne Peek’s mother, a life-long UU. Becky, Master Gardener through the U of M Extension Services, and Beth Smith continue to pull weeds, contribute wood chips, plant plants from their own gardens, planted a crabapple tree and basically nurture our scenic environment informally. Volunteers Nancy Buckman and Karen Schaub pull weeds, but for the last two years have specialized in pulling weeds out of the parking lot pavement cracks. Beth says the garden is reliant on nature for watering, and also says we have a fair amount of dandelions, flax, and wild daisies that self-sew; an authentic prairie spread, as Ginny envisioned. Maintaining our garden and nature’s facade shows MVUUF’s positive caring, and we are grateful to those who have continued to contribute to its beauty and health…”especially Becky, and Beth,” praises Ginny. Top of Page DID YOU KNOW? Archive Project We have been taping member oral histories since 1993, at the suggestion of Rev. Sheryl Wurl, and have taped a total of 30 thus far. The purpose is to learn how members came to Unitarian Universalism and in particular to Minnesota Valley UU Fellowship. We use audio cassettes, but hope to one day tape on CDs. Our interviewers in the past have been Luella Newstrom, Barb Gilliand, Donna Kopnick, Beverly Schmidt. At the present time Theresa Zingery or Julie Angeles might be calling you to participate. Archives keeps the original tape and gives a copy to participants. They are intended to preserve some of our MVUUF history for the future and to inform and delight current and future family progeny. By participating, you help keep our important Fellowship heritage alive as well as sharing your religious journey with your descendants. By the way, is there anyone who would like to transcribe these tapes? It’s a job that needs to be done. AUDIO TAPES – Sunday Services Tapes of Sunday services may be borrowed for a short time from the church office. . Be sure to sign your name to a slip of paper when you borrow a tape. They are kept in the Archives for the future. Top of Page |
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Vote No Valentines for Legislators |
Welcoming
Congregation Page Informational Links  |
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Do you hate going out in winter? Is your free limited to odd hours? Are you a snowbird? Our new program may be just the thing for you. Starting in January you can join in a discussion group on line. We are starting a Discussion Blog. Every two weeks Rev. Breeden will put up a discussion question and you can join in the discussion by going to the blog page. The discussion will run for two weeks and then a new topic will be put up. You will find the address for the blog on Rev. Breeden’s Friday email at the beginning of January. We are also working to put a link to the blog on the webpage. This is a new undertaking for Adult Education so let us know what you think.
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All non-pledge collections at our Christmas Eve Service will be added to the Minister Crisis Fund. You can write a check to MVUUF with “Crisis Fund” in the memo line or put cash in the collection basket. If you are unable to attend our Christmas Eve Service, you can donate to this fund at any time. Just a reminder MVUUF owns several pieces of art. This art is for sale with proceeds going to the Fellowship. We have a MVUUF Art Inventory (pdf) with pictures and other information on each piece. You can also see the booklet in the MVUUF office. If you think you might be interested in purchasing one, let the Office Manager (Janet Stevens) or the Finance Chair (Lorry Lundborg) know. Steve and Jean Danko are excellent resources for your art questions. Top of Page Minimum Contribution for Membership The bylaws of the Fellowship state that qualifications for membership include “making the minimum contribution of record to the current operating budget by January 1st of each year.” The Board of Trustees has determined that this minimum contribution of record is $100 per member. Although the total cost of operating the Fellowship is approximately $1,000 per member, this minimum amount is intended to reflect the incremental, out-of-pocket cost for each person on the membership role. It includes the amounts we pay to Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations and the Prairie Star District for each member as well as administrative expenses such as mail boxes, copying, mailing and so forth. It does not include costs such as salaries, religious education, program, and building expenses which comprise the majority of our expenditures. Top of Page |
FUNDRAISERS Airport Chauffeur Service  |
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The idea behind the Book is easy: take a book that interests you and replace it with one you're done with. Help the fellowship's book lovers by donating your old books! Just drop them off on the Book shelves. We currently have fiction and non-fiction books but very few children's books. Top of Page |
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We now have a full complement of MVUUF social media sites to check out for updates and announcements about church activities, for a new, short video sermonette by David, and simply for a greater share in the experience of being part of the MVUUF community. Check them out and please participate. They are yours. Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/mnvalleyuu Twitter: http://twitter.com/MVUUF YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/MVUUF Our aim is to make the videos with David a monthly feature. They will, incidentally, feature theme music by Sonja Johnston.Top of Page |
Tips for Communicating at MVUUF |
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MVUUF Energy Audit (PDF) |
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Youth Coordinator Biography |
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Minister of Music |
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What is a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD)? IRA owners age 70&1/2 and older can make a QCD directly from their IRA to a Qualified Charity and exclude these gifts from their incomes (up to $100,000) until December 31st. Income tax charitable deductions are not available for QCD’s, but donors may save taxes anyway because they can satisfy part or all of their required minimum distributions. Only the IRA custodian or trustee can transfer gift amounts to a qualified charity. If IRA owners withdraw funds and then contribute them to a charity, the amounts withdrawn will be included in the donor’s gross income. It is important to remember that QCD’s can only be made from traditional IRA’s (including inherited IRA’s) or ROTH IRA’s, provided the beneficiary has reached the age of 70&1/2. Other retirement plans, such as pensions, 401(k) plans and others are not eligible. (Including active SEP and SIMPLE IRA’s) As of today, QCD’s are scheduled to end this year. For more information about QCD’s or how they can benefit MVUUF, please contact Bob Boucher at 952-412-4406. TOP FIVE REASONS PEOPLE GIVE TO THEIR CHURCH’S ENDOWMENT FUND 1) They desire to give a gift that will keep giving forever (That’s a long time!) 2) Because gifts given during life have the following benefits: A) You get see the impact of the gift during the remainder of your lifetime3) They want to designate the gift be used for a specific purpose that is most important to them 4) They want to leave an unrestricted gift so that all future church members can use the gift as they best see fit 5) Because gifts given at death have the following benefits: A) They are not included in your estate’s value for tax purposesFor more information on how you can give to MVUUF’s endowment fund and what your gift may be able to give to you and your family, please contact Bob Boucher at 952-412-4406. Top of Page |
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In order to minimize the use of paper plates and plastic silverware, we need to know in advance if we have volunteers to help clean-up. Please sign-up a week before you are able to help. The February hospitality menu, always subject to change, is: Sunday February 5th – Super Bowl Salad Sunday: Enjoy a mixed green salad before your game day snacks. Please feel free to bring a topping to share. Sunday February 12th – February Birthday Party for February babies of all ages: Enjoy sloppy joes and ice cream floats. Thank you to the Green Sanctuary Committee and Pat Chelmo for volunteering to provide hospitality while I’m on vacation February 19th through March 4th. |
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Activities and Interests Survey |
Fellowship One Recommendation Needs Analysis Summary of Findings Needs Analysis Proposal |
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How we do shared ministry at MVUUF is evolving, and the specifics of how the COSM works to facilitate and improve our shared ministries are especially a work in progress. If you have ideas or questions as to how this could be done or improved talk to any committee member. Committee members can be identified by our blue nametags with Committee on Shared Ministry at the top. Top of Page |
MVUUF Five Ministries |
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WITHIN, AMONG, BEYOND |
