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The Grapevine Newsletter

April 2019

Published by Pullman Memorial Universalist Church, Albion, NY

Member of the Unitarian Universalist Association

Visit our Website pullmanmemorial.org -- Follow us on facebook.com/pullmanmemorial

The 125th Annual Congregational Meeting (Sunday, April 28th, 11 am)

If you plan on attending and have not RSVP’d, please contact Liz Schaal at lizanns@gmail.com by April 1st.

The meeting will be held in lieu of a regular church service.

Lunch will be provided.

Every year this meeting is held to address the congregation and report on the progress of

the year, vote on Board members and officers for the coming year, and give the congregation a chance to have a voice and add their input.

Your attendance is very important because business cannot be conducted unless there is

a quorum of 15 voting members present!

Please come and support PMUC.

Service Schedule – Sunday at 11:00AM (unless otherwise noted)

April 7 Rev. Susan Frawley April 14 Rev. Donald J. Reidell April 21, Easter Susan Daiss April 28 No Service – 125th Annual Congregational Meeting May 5 Rev. Lori Staubitz

Assisted listening devices are available for services – available near the lectern

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Coming Events Sunday, April 7 – Rev. Susan Frawley Monday, April 8 – 6:00 pm, Potluck Supper. Please bring a dish to pass and join us for good

food and fellowship. Sunday, April 14 – 9:00 am, Board of Trustees Meeting Sunday, April 14 – Rev. Donald J. Reidell Sunday, April 21, Easter – Susan Daiss Sunday, April 28 – No Service – 125th Annual Congregational Meeting at 11 am Sunday, May 5 - Rev. Lori Staubitz

* 2019 PMUC Pledges *

The 2018 budget year for PMUC ends 3/31/19.

Please submit your pledge form for 2019 by the end of April.

(See the last page of newsletter for pledge form.)

Your stewardship is greatly appreciated.

Worship Associates Needed!

If you would like to volunteer to be a worship associate and read the welcome/announcement message, chalice lighting words, and other elements of our worship, please contact Chris Loss (closs1626@gmail.com) or Darrell Dyke (darrell.dyke2@gmail.com).

Please Sign-Up to Bring a Snack for Coffee Hour

Sign-up sheet available in the parish hall

*IMPORTANT*

Please note: Some of our members and friends have sensitivities to fragrances and strong scents. We ask that you refrain from wearing strongly scented products when attending church so as not to negatively affect the health of those with sensitivities. Thank you for your cooperation.

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Next Book Discussion -- May The next book discussion will be tentatively May 26. The book for the discussion will be Inheritance: A Memoir of Genealogy, Paternity, and Love by Dani Shapiro. Sylvia Goodstine will be the host for this discussion. From Amazon:

In the spring of 2016, through a genealogy website to which she had whimsically submitted her DNA for analysis, Dani Shapiro received the stunning news that her father was not her biological father. She woke up one morning and her entire history--the life she had lived--crumbled beneath her. “Inheritance” is a book about secrets--secrets within families, kept out of shame or self-protectiveness; secrets we keep from one another in the name of love. It is the story of a woman's urgent quest to unlock the story of her own identity, a story that has been scrupulously hidden from her for more than fifty years, years she had spent writing brilliantly, and compulsively, on themes of identity and family history. It is a book about the extraordinary moment we live in--a moment in which science and technology have outpaced not only medical ethics but also the capacities of the human heart to contend with the consequences of what we discover.

* The book is available for loan via the NIOGA and Monroe County library systems

Eye on the Board The Board of Trustees met on March 17. While our fiscal year to date total is currently in the red, by the end of March, it should be even or a bit ahead. Our endowment has recovered the recent losses and is now near the high for the fiscal year 2018. This is a pretty good way to end the year. Our custodian, in addition to his regular duties, has started repair of glazing window panes of the east basement door entrance, repaired the carpet shampoo machine, removed stains from the rug, and reported a blown outlet in the board room. Bids are still being sought for drywall and plastering, and the additional heat tapes have so far kept icicle formation at bay! The Health Department has checked the fire extinguishers. The next book discussion will be held in May. 'Inheritance: A Memoir of Genealogy, Paternity, and Love' by Dani Shapiro will be hosted by Sylvia Goodstine. April is all set for speakers, but due to the Annual Meeting on April 28, no service has been scheduled. That day, the 125th Annual Congregational Meeting will be held from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. This was done to encourage more attendance since the day won't be as long. RSVP's are still coming in. The Board made plans for collecting reports and distributing them to the membership prior to the meeting. The budget and officers will be voted on.

(Retrieved 2/25/19, Amazon)

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Eye on the Board continued The Board Mini Retreat was held on Saturday, March 9 and was a productive day! The purpose was to brainstorm ways to increase attendance and membership. One idea the Board entertained was to have one Friday evening service per month that will be more casual and involve a local speaker. The first such service will occur on June 21st. Rich Della Costa has agreed to be our first speaker. One will be held in July and August. The Strawberry Festival is coming up on June 7 and 8. Plans were made for a possible art show and book reading. Music will also be offered.

Mentioned in the Sermon

From Rev. Libby Moore’s March 10th service titled, “Out of the Desert and Into Beloved Community”:

Books: After the Ecstasy, the Laundry: How the Heart Grows Wise on the Spiritual Path

by Jack Kornfield

The Wisdom Jesus: Transforming Heart and Mind—A New Perspective on Christ and His Message by Cynthia Bourgeault

Pullman Plaudits Joyce Riley, Jessica George, and Chris Loss participated in the service on March 3rd by reading a

paragraph. Thanks to all who came to the Potluck supper on March 4th. It was a time of great food and

conversation! Darrell Dyke, Rich Della Costa, Liz Schaal, Sylvia Goodstine, Jessica George, Richard Hoffman,

Diana Dudley, and Chris Loss attended the Board Mini Retreat on Saturday, March 9th. Thanks for the many great ideas. It was a very productive day!

Jan Anderson, author of 'The Eagle Flies at Night' contacted Liz Schaal because she saw on Facebook that we had a book discussion on her book! Sadly, we did not have the discussion because of confusion regarding the date. Chris Loss sent her an email and said we will reschedule the book talk. Chris also sent Jan the prepared questions for discussion. Jan is a member of a UU church in Maine, and it is exciting that she took an interest in us!

Many thanks to Sylvia Goodstine for bringing most of the goodies for coffee hour all month!

Don Olsowski has been working so hard keeping the church looking good. It is so nice to see a clean rug, and a clean kitchen. He is doing an awesome job!

In accordance with the Qadour family's religion, donations to the poor are given. In deep appreciation of the love from Pullman Church members and friends, the family has donated to the Food Bank through Community Action in honor of PMUC.

Thank you to the Qadour Family.

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Pullman Plaudits continued Dr. Tobin Carson was in the pulpit on Sunday, March

24th, in a last minute switch, and gave a wonderful sermon on 'Listening'!

Diana Dudley has finally conquered the icicle problem at the entrance of the church!! More heat tapes were applied and this apparently worked!!

-John Mosher has been recovering well and recently held a meditation group at his home! When he recovers his strength, we will see him hosting groups at our church again!

News from UU Central East Region

Building Resilient and Secure Communities Saturday, April 13th, from 9am-3pm at First Unitarian Church of Pittsburgh

(https://www.uua.org/central-east/events/region/safety-conference)

This conference will cover a wide array of topics around safety, security, trauma response, and resilience in congregational life. To live is to be at risk. While we can never be 100% safe from harm,

we can prepare for the challenges that our communities potentially face. From natural disaster to relational misconduct to cybercrime to pure violence, there are healthy practices that help our

congregations remain resilient and strong to do the important work they do in the world. Please join us for this important event.

Rev. Aaron Payson from the U.U. Trauma Response Ministry will provide the keynote. Workshops on

a wide array of topics for all skill/knowledge levels will be offered by Central East Region staff. Congregations will share the work they have done to build resilient and strong communities. This will be a vibrant and informative event- we hope to see you there!

This conference is for everyone in your congregations: members, friends, safety teams/committees,

religious education teachers, board members, staff, and religious professionals- there is something for everyone!

Food will be provided. Childcare upon request. Due to the need to pay for the keynote speaker and

food, there is a sliding scale from $10-50. A registration form will be available soon. Contact Sunshine Wolfe with questions at swolfe@uua.org<mailto:swolfe@uua.org>.

Dr. Tobin Carson speaking March 24th

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Support PMUC and the Planet

Just a reminder – We have a bin for refundable cans/bottles and one for aluminum. Both our church and the environment benefit!!

The bins are located in the vestibule at the ramp entrance.

Please be sure the aluminum is clean and labels are removed.

Please do not crush the aluminum.

Pullman Memorial Universalist Church PO Box 87, 10 East Park Street, Albion, NY 14411 Editor: Liz Schaal, Assistant: Chris Loss, pmuc.albion@gmail.com

We are a welcoming congregation

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PULLMAN MEMORIAL UNIVERSALIST CHURCH

Members and Friends

2019 PLEDGE FORM

Please help us continue to provide a liberal sanctuary to you and other members and friends of the PMUC Congregation where “an open and democratic environment” is part of our continued mission.

Name

Address

Email

Pledges can be given on a weekly, monthly, quarterly, and yearly basis. Please contact the collections officer if you are interested in pledge envelopes.

Total ANNUAL Pledge $

I understand that the amount above can be revised or cancelled should the circumstances make it necessary.

Signature Date

Should you need to adjust your pledge at any time during the year, please contact the

collections officer so that we can adjust our budget accordingly.

Your stewardship is greatly appreciated! Thank you.