FLAME4501 Walnut St. KC, MO 64111

816-531-2131 www.allsoulskc.org Like us on Facebook; open to all: All Souls Unitarian

Universalist Church, Kansas City, MO

For complete calendar: http://allsoulskc.org/happenings/calendar/

May 2016

Sunday Services 2 Minister’s Message 3 Religious Education 4 Adult Education 5 Fellowship 6 Caring Connections 7 Music Sunday 7

Art Gallery/Coffeehouse 7 Annual Meeting 8-9 Capital Campaign 10 Carver School 10 Financials & Attendance 11 Solar Panels 11

Table of Contents

A Successful Mystery Friends Program

Our Mystery Friends program in April was a rousing success! 24 children & teens became new friends with 24 adult members of our congregation. These intergenerational friendships are priceless. Many thanks to all of you who participated in this program!

Annual Congregational Meeting Sunday, May 15

following Sunday Plus Lunch, Bragg Some of the Agenda Items: Election of Board of Trustees, Budget, Awards Presented and a Resolution from the Building Renovation Steering Committee. Come participate in our fifth UU principle: The right of conscience and the use of the democratic

process within our congregations and in society at large.

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May 1

May

Sunday Services

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11:15 Service:  “Called Onward”                                                                                         Rev. Kendyl Gibbons It is said that the church exists by mission as a fire exists by burning.  While we move forward in the          important project of securing our building for the future needs of our community, let us not ignore the underlying purpose of this community.  We have a message to deliver and to demonstrate to the world; we are called to connec on with one another, to mature integra on within ourselves, to apprecia on of the world around us, and to accountability to the past we inherit and the future we prepare. 

May

May 22

May

15

11:15 Service:  “A ‘Good’ Goodbye”              Jordinn Nelson Long In his book The Four Things That Ma er Most, Ira Byock writes about crea ng effec ve endings ‐‐ and in so doing, lay the founda on for healthy beginnings. This is a season of  transi on: gradua ons, moves, returns home from college, steps toward the groundbreaking of our building.  How can we say goodbye with inten on and joy?  This will be intern Jordinn Nelson Long's last service with our congrega on.

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10:00 Forum: “Challenge, Intellect, and Rhythm”                                                                       Joseph Davis Regular a endees who have been around All Souls for ten years or so know Joseph Davis for the periodic, original poetry he offers at occasional services.  All of that poetry is the sort that knocks ours socks off with its poignancy and its fresh perspec ves about human issues.   

11:15 Service: “Music Sunday—A Gershwin Portrait”                        All Souls Choir with Anthony Edwards “Music must reflect the thoughts and aspira ons of the people and the  me. My people are American. My  me is today.” This is what Gershwin said about himself & his music. Does this music s ll reflect our culture today or does it only remind us of the racially divided country that we were and s ll are today?  

10:00 Forum: “Impact of Industrial Agriculture on Rural Communi es”                         Prof. Donald Stull Stull, professor emeritus in anthropology at K.U., writes about the consequences of the meat industry for farmers, workers, and communi es that host their plants: Slaughterhouse Blues: The Meat and Poultry Industry in North America, and (co‐editor) Any Way You Cut It: Meat Processing and Small‐Town America. 

10:00 Forum: “Ethics in Interna onal Finance”                                                                  Dr. Kara Tan Bhala  Dr. Bhala is President of the Seven Pillars Ins tute for Global Finance & Ethics, and editor of Moral Cents: The Journal of Ethics in Finance, covering topics of banking regula on, global financial collapse & Buddhist ethics in finance.  Her new book is Interna onal Investment Management: Theory, Ethics & Prac ce. 

10:00 Forum: “The Future Path of the Supreme Court?”                                                    Prof. Edward Cantu The Supreme Court is balanced between conserva ve and liberal wings and the current vacancy has           already created 4 ‐ 4  deadlocks.  Edward is Associate Professor of Law at UMKC Law School and will             discuss the standoff between the President and Congress and possible outcomes. 

11:15 Service:  “Gardeners of the Spirit; Flower Ritual”                                                   Rev. Kendyl Gibbons Celebrate the love and legacy of mothers and all people who nurture the humanity of others.  We also celebrate the nurturing of community, where each of us brings gi s that together create beauty and  sustenance for all.  Please remember to have each member of the family bring a flower, from your               garden or the store, to help assemble our bouquet, so that everybody can take a flower home. 

10:00 Forum: “Plans for the American Jazz Museum”                                          Cheptoo Kositany‐Buckner Ms. Kositani‐Buckner is the new execu ve director of the American Jazz Museum located in the historic 18th and Vine Jazz District in Kansas City.  She will lay out her plans to promote and enhance the en re experience that one can enjoy from both the exhibits and associated musical performances.   

11:15 Service:  “Ques onable Thoughts”                                                                       Rev. Kendyl Gibbons One of our movement’s beloved tradi ons is the Ques on Box sermon.  Leave a note with your ques on in the box on Kendyl’s door any  me before May 27, and she will answer it to the best of her ability.  She might take a pass on something extremely personal, but almost any topic is fair game. 

There is a story that a faith community leader (priest, minister, rabbi, imam, master -- take your pick) was traveling on an airplane that ran into turbulence. As everyone was being bounced around and yelling with fright, one of the passengers called out to the holy one, “Do something religious!” So he took up a collection. Offerings of various kinds are ubiquitous across a variety of religious traditions, precisely because the need for resources to run our institutions and make our ministries effective is universal in all denominations. Yet there is something self-serving about asking a more or less captive audience at worship to give money to benefit only the speaker/s and the house organization. If our goal is to inspire people to live spiritually mature, generous lives, and to create a more just and compassionate society, we ought to model, in our rituals, the same attitude of ‘pass it on’ and ‘pay it forward’ that we hope to cultivate in our fellow members and ourselves. With this in mind, the Social Responsibility Board and the ministers are inviting our congregation to experiment with a variation on our current practice of Special Offerings for the coming year. Two factors have influenced us toward this change. First, we recognize that not all our members and friends are able to be with us each and every Sunday, and some of us sometimes miss the week when an organization we care about received support. Second, others of us count on being able to deliver our intended support for All Souls through the collection basket whenever we are present. So here is how we hope to address these realities in the next program year. Each month, the ministers and the SRB together will identify the local or national organization that we recommend the congregation support through donations. For three weeks out of the month, that organization will receive half of the unspecified money collected at the offering. On the fourth Sunday, the entire collection will be either for the annual operating budget, or for Music and Religious Education. Any time there is a fifth Sunday, the entire collection will be for the annual operating budget. As always, we will honor the intention of any donor who clearly labels their contribution, either toward the outside organization, or entirely for All Souls. Just put a note in the check memo line, or put cash in an envelope and write your intention on the outside. Our hope is that this process will help us to learn more about, and become more committed to, the work of the organizations we choose to support. We will be able to hear from representatives of those groups, as well as members of the congregation who have been involved with them. Congregants who miss one Sunday will have additional opportunities to make their donation on subsequent weeks. Congregations that adopt a commitment to give away some part of their Sunday offering to the larger community regularly report that generosity increases overall, and tend not to experience a reduction in support for the institutional budget. We look forward to discovering how our own organizational benevolence can grow, as we make a commitment to enact the values of our mission through the practice of our weekly offering. — Rev. Kendyl Sunday Sermons in lobby and online: http://allsoulskc.org/category/read-sermons/

From the Minister Rev. Dr. Kendyl Gibbons

Religious Odysseys, 10 – 11 a.m. June 5 – August 28

As the successful 2015-16 Forum season draws to a close at the end of May, our summer Religious Odyssey program begins at 10 a.m. on Sunday, June 5. Each week different All Soulers share their personal stories and journeys that led them to All Souls. It is a wonderful way for us to learn about and share our rich theological diversity. Presenters find this to be a good opportunity to reflect on their lives and the choices they have made as they share their stories with an attentive and respectful audience. Volunteers also are needed to help with this popular program. Please contact Carolyn MacDonald if you want to be a presenter and/or a volunteer for the program.

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Children & Youth Sunday Morning Schedule 10:00—12:15 Nursery service is provided for babies and toddlers. 10:00—10:30 Children’s Choir, grades 1-6, lower level 10:00—11:00 A time of creativity, conversation, and community for all ages. 11:15—12:15 Sunday School classes for all ages to explore our Unitarian Universalist faith and principles through storytelling, discussion, creative experiences, and service projects.

The Bells of Arlington Street Church 

Did you know the Arlington Street Church in Boston was the first church in the U.S. to 

perform a state‐sanc oned same gender wedding in May of 2004, and three days later 

55 weddings were performed in one day by three clergy at Arlington Street Church? On 

our trip to Boston our COA youth will learn this and more about the social jus ce history 

of this historic UU Church built in Boston’s Back Bay in 1861. We will view the beau ful 

and famous stained glass windows believed to be the largest collec on of Tiffany windows 

in any one church.  We will meet with a church leader to find out about how this congrega on has contributed 

significantly to the religious and social history of North America, including the founding of the American             

Unitarian movement. Then we will climb wooden ladders to the very top of the church to play songs on the 16 

huge old‐fashioned steeple bells.  We will discover how the bells of Arlington Street Church s ll ring out for 

peace and jus ce in our na on! 

 

Religious Education Rev. Judith Cady

Rev. Judith Cady

The Religious Education Board Meets 1st Sundays, 12:15, Library Anyone is welcome to attend

Thank You for Your Generosity!!!

Our congregation is so supportive of our religious education programs for our children and youth at All Souls. We appreciate all of you who have given so generously to help fund our Coming of Age trip to Boston this summer. We still need more financial support for this trip. Please help! Make checks payable to All Souls with COA on the memo line. Thank you for investing in our future Unitarian Universalist leaders!!!

You are invited: Standing on the Side of Love Recep on Sunday, May 22, A er the church service, Lower Level Classrooms 

Join our children and youth for drinks and refreshments 

Let us stand on the side of love as one All Souls community 

Adult Education

Adult Educa on Classes Adult Sunday School: Sunday mornings, 9-10, Library: “The Meaning of Life: Perspectives from the World’s Great Intellectual Traditions,” from the Bhagavad-Gita through the Lakota philosopher Lame Deer. Facilitator: Lee Ann Bergin

Keeping the Sabbath: Sundays, 12:30—1 pm, Bragg, All spiritual traditions honored through prayer and meditation. Facilitator: Rev. Diana Hughes

HUUmanist Book Club: Monday, May 9, 7 pm, Library. Contact Greg Brown, gebrown8@aim.com

Gnawing for Knowledge: Wednesdays, noon: philosophical discussion.

Agnostics AA Meeting: Thurs, 7-8 pm, Tues, 7-8 pm, Lower Level; Fri & Sat, noon, Mtg Rm

Movie Group: May 4, 7 pm: “City of Gold,” “Eye in the Sky,” “Hello, My Name is Doris,” “Krisha,” and “Marguerite.”

Next Board Meeting, Wednesday, May 18, 6:45 pm, Meeting Rm.

Continued: Aging with Wisdom Workshop* Part II, Sun, May 1, 1:30-3:30 Facilitators: Jim Mitchell & Diane Salucci After exploring strategies for aging wisely in our Feb. & April sessions, we continuing our study with the following topics. You do not need to have attended the first sessions to gain a lot of insight from this gthering, and all ages are welcome.

Part III: Facing limitations/accepting loss Embracing mortality Leaving a Legacy Exploring creativity/opportunities Cultivating Wisdom Becoming an Elder *If you need elder care in order to attend, contact Cheryl Westra

From the Heartland Coalition (All Souls member organization) The Missouri General Assembly has bills under consideration that could significantly increase the lawful presence of guns on campuses and in the public domain.

They include 1) Allowing students and others to carry concealed weapons on college campuses; 2) Allowing concealed weapons to be carried on public transportation; and 3) Allowing concealed weapons to be carried anywhere not specifically prohibited by law. In addition, one bill would replace Missourians’ duty to retreat laws with stand your ground.

All Souls members are encouraged to express their opinions about these proposed bills by writing their Assembly representatives. Contact information can be found at http://www.senate.mo.gov/LegisLookup/default.aspx/leg_lookup.aspx

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Fellowship

Potluck &

Meeting

Tuesday

May 17

6:00 pm

Conover

All Souls Men’s Group Thursday, May 12, Conover

Hors D’oeuvres: 5:30 pm

Dinner 6:00, Discussion 7 - 8:15 $8 donation for dinner

Vegetarian available on request Reservations strongly recommended.

Don Dickey, donalddickey@earthlink.net And Don Wakefield,

donaldlwakefield@hotmail.com

Sunday Plus Lunches $7 per person/$20 family

May 1: Cinco de Mayo Celebration Chefs: Cassity Sisters Menu: Enchilada Casserole, Tex-Mex Rice, Tortilla Soup, Black Beans, and Chips & Salsa. Assortment of desserts. Vegetarian and Gluten free options will be available

May 15 Benefits: Coming of Age trip to UU National Boston HQ Menu: Sandwiches, Salads and Yummy Desserts 

Bridge

Friday, May 13, 7 pm

RSVP: Carol Fields and Chuck Downing

downingpix@gmail.com or cofced@yahoo.com

NeedleHearts Sat, May 21, 10 am, Library

Join us to knit or crochet and visit. We will be working on blocks for our afghans, teddy

bears, scarves and hats. If you want to learn to knit or crochet,

we look forward to seeing you. Contacts: Sue Coy or

Sharon Cassity or reach us at needlehearts@allsoulskc.org

Snacks Welcome!

Caring Connections Doris V. Gerner, 87, passed away April 14, 2016. Ralph "Budd" Stevens, passed away suddenly on April 25. Our thoughts are with his wife, Susan, and daughters, Carissa and Arabella. His memorial service will be Sat, May 7, 11 am, Bragg.

Caring Connections, Artistic Events

All Souls Gallery Presents: Show by Shelby Prindaville, Ecological Artist

Closes May 20

Shelby Prindaville is the Art Program Director at the University of Saint Mary, Leavenworth Kansas. Her artwork has been exhibited in various venues internationally and throughout the U.S. Her work is included in a number of public and private collections, and she has been awarded a variety of grants and international & domestic residencies.

All Souls Coffeehouse Friday, May 27, 7:30 pm, Bragg

No cover charge Donations accepted for snacks Donations to Harvesters Barrel Welcome

We begin with a featured performer and follow with an open mic. You can hear All Souls members on a variety of instruments, as well as poetry. A comfortable way for people new to performing to begin. Some of the more polished performers around town drop in as well.

All Souls Music Sunday May 1, 11:15

The All Souls Choir

Anthony Edwards, Music Director Present

A Gershwin Portrait The Music of George & Ira Gershwin

Sarah LaBarr Seth Golay

Daria LeGrand Tom Lancaster, Soloists

The Sunday offering benefits All Souls Music and Religious Education Programs

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Annual Meeting

Annual Meeting News: A. The following resolution from the Building Renovation Steering Committee will be placed before the congregation at the May 15, 2016 Annual Meeting:

The All Souls Congregation approves the next steps in the Renovation Project, which are: To charge the Steering Committee with selecting a Phase II Design Task Force and a Construction

Task Force; To spend funds from the capital campaign to engage architects; and With the Phase II Design Task Force acting on behalf of the congregation, to proceed in the next

design phases which will result in design and finance options to be presented to the congregation, tentatively in Fall 2016.

No construction will begin before the congregation has approved a design and financial strategy for realizing it.

B. Annual Reports from Teams and Committees are due by May 5: office@allsoulskc.org. A format for such reports can be found on the website: http://allsoulskc.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Guidelines-for-Annual-Report.pdf

C. Nominating Committee puts for this slate, to be voted on at the meeting: Board of Trustees: Margaret Drinkwine (continuing), Scott England, and Joseph Davis Treasurer: Chuck Downing (continuing); Asst. Treasurer: Jamie Koelsch; Secretary: Marli Murphy Nominating Committee: Camilla Huet-Derrossett (continuing), Matthew Westra (continuing) and Dori Bader Audit Committee: Ken Yager

Bios for Nominees:

Dori Bader: This church means a lot to me and I welcome the opportunity to serve on the Nominating Committee. It’s been almost 30 years since my family walked thru these doors and in that time I’ve been supported in so many ways on life’s journey; Joe’s Caring Circle, Demeters, Small Group Ministry and countless educational classes. I’ve served in Stewardship, Caring Connection, Membership, the Auction Team, 3 Intern Support groups, a Ministerial Search Committee, and the Board of Trustees.

Joseph Davis: Joseph has been a member of ASUUC since 2005, having served as a reader, moderator and choir member. He was also briefly on the Intern Support for Rev. Meghan Conrad Cefalu and Rev. Mitra Rahnema. "One of my fondest member at ASUUC was, in fact, the day Mitra was ordained. Before her Ordination Ceremony, there was a celebration of the Roman Catholic Mass by WOMEN priests, who, in turn, participated in Mitra's ordination afterwards. It would be the last time I would receive communion from ANY priest...There was a kind of closure and realization that a UU/Humanist perspective would have me asking questions I never could as a Catholic -- at least, it felt that way to me. STANDING ON THE SIDE OF LOVE proves to be more than a slogan to me; it is a DARE to broaden and strengthen my love of self and the world around me."

Chuck Downing: During thirty+ years as a member and with the encouragement and support of other All Souls members, I have had the opportunity to serve and participate in many ways, testing my limitations and abilities. Various services have included chair of the Nominating, Finance, Auction, Lay Leadership, Stewardship and Grounds committees, Treasurer, Sunday morning cashier, usher, greeter, dishwasher and chef . It has always been rewarding and I enjoy being more involved again.

The current Capital Campaign adds special challenges for us. Thanks to the wonderful and able assistance from staff and other members that will be available, I can look forward to serving another year as Treasurer.

Annual Meeting

Margaret Estrin Drinkwine: I joined All Souls in 1996 after returning to Kansas City (having grown up at All Souls). Our children attended church school and my daughter graduated through Coming of Age. I have served on Green Sanctuary and LRD (religious education) committees and helped write the application that led to our Green Sanctuary Certification. I am active in choir, serve as a service moderator, usher and coordinate the medical response team. I am just completing a term on the Board and feel that as we complete the capital campaign and approach our building project, continuity is important. I would be willing to serve another term to help us reach our goals and make All Souls a stronger presence in the greater community while we balance the needs and dreams of our own community.

Scott England: I've been a member of All Souls UU Church since September 1998, when I moved to Kansas City. I have sung with the choir off and on since February 1999. I was deeply involved with Interweave in the late 90's - early 2000's. My biggest involvement with the church has been through the Religious Education program - I taught RE from 1999 - 2010, following one group of youth from 1st & 2nd grade through graduation from High School, and have been co-leader for the Our Whole Lives sexuality education program since 2000. I've worked as a Registered Nurse at Children's Mercy Kansas City since August 1998, and just recently completed my 2nd Bachelor's degree (BSN). Outside of church, I sing with the Heartland Men's Chorus. My husband, Kelly Marzett, and I have been together almost 18 years, and count our wedding at All Souls as one of the most important events in our lives.

Camilla Huet-Derrossett: I joined All Souls in 2008. I was the Membership chair for five years. I have created the Greeters roster for the past 7 years. I continue to keep us updated and in stock on all the various visitor pamphlets. I was on the Nominating committee in 2010 & 2015. I love working with reStart as well as the UNplaza Art Fair. I assisted with the Chili Cookoff.

Jamie Koelsch: I've been a member at All Souls since 2014. I'm a Co-Chair for the Capital Campaign Committee and I've served on the Membership Committee for the past two years.

Marli Murphy: A 4-year member, active in the Membership Committee, chaired the Annual Committee Fair and co-chaired Christmas in October 2015. She has served as an usher twice a month for three years, volunteered at the Annual UNplaza Art Fair and is a reader for Sunday services. Marli has served as All Souls’ representative to the Southmoreland Neighborhood Assoc. for three years as SNA secretary. She and her partner, Tommy Graves, also serve periodically at reStart. Marli is a Marketing Manager for Philanthropic Communication at Children’s Mercy Hospital.

Matthew Westra: I’ve been a member at All Souls since 1992, raised my children here, and have been active in teaching OWLs for the youth, participating in the Respectful Practices ad hoc group, spent two terms on the Committee on Ministry, and for the last two years, I’ve been on the Nominating Committee and the congregation’s committee to support our ministerial intern.

Ken Yager: Ken Yager has been a member of All Souls for almost seven years. He has participated in the Men's Group, Humanists Book Club, Dinner for Eight, Transylvania Partner Church and visits prisoners monthly at the Ft. Leavenworth Disciplinary Barracks. He has served as an usher and cashiers the first Sunday of each month.

Keep our Community in the Loop! If you find yourself having a medical or personal crisis, we care. Please let the All Souls office know if you are, or are going to be, in the hospital, or having a difficult time or needs at home. We can keep your information confidential, or tell others, as you prefer. Remember, we want to help, so we need to know.

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Capital Campaign, Carver News

Charitable Donations from an IRA Congress reauthorized a provision previously in the tax code and made it permanent. This allows a person who is at least 70.5 years old to transfer money directly from an IRA to a charity. The benefits are: 1) no taxes are due on the distribution; 2) the distribution counts against the minimum required distribution for the year; and 3) the distribution does not add to income. Up to $100,000 per year may be transferred this way. There is no charitable deduction for this amount as it is untaxed. This tax break applies only to an IRA and only to a person who is at least 70.5 years old at the time of the transfer. The transfer MUST be directly from the IRA to the charity, the money cannot go through your hands. It is not usable from other retirement accounts such as 401k or 403b. However, those retirement accounts can be rolled into an IRA. For more info: http://www.wsj.com/articles/popular-irs-charitable-tax-break-can-be-valuablefor-those-who-know-how-to-use-it-1459130770

A Call for Children's Books

Students who don't read during the summer, lose ground that takes months to regain in the new school year. To give kids who don't have access to books during the summer a chance to stay engaged, Carver teachers are hoping to send books home with those kids at the end of the school year. All Souls can help by donating children's books and leaving them in the donation box in the coat room at All Souls.

Update on the Capital Campaign as of April 29, 2016

Financials, Attendance, Solar Panels

Sunny Portal Info Report for PV System: All Souls Church as of March 2016 This is a report of the power generated, revenue generated (power cost offset) and CO2 reduction during March with our solar panels at All Souls. $215.30 Revenue 2273.501 KW Production 1591.451 Carbon Reduction

Attendance Figures for March 2016: March 6 March 13 March 20 March 27 Service 122 80 114 117 Sunday Forum 42 41 45 47 Sunday School* 46 47 58 58 * includes teachers

March 2016 

Pledged Income is $18,794 —$5,456 under budget (‐22.5%). 

Total Dona on Income is $21,400 ‐  $5,641 under budget (‐20.9%). 

Total Income is $31,666 ‐ $15,088 under budget (‐32.3%). 

Total Expenses are $46,810 ‐ $532 under budget (1.1%). 

Total Expenses exceed Total Income by $15,144—$14,556 over budget. 

Year to Date: 

Pledged Income is $219,514 ‐ $1,264 over budget (.06%). 

Total Income is $258,301 ‐ $14,926 over budget (6.1%). 

Total Expenses are $339,050 ‐ $16,651 over budget (4.4%). 

Total Expenses exceed Total Income by $39,837  ‐  $9,271 over budget. 

A complete report can be found in the Communica ons Center. 

Church Chat, May 1, 1:00 pm, Bragg Topic: 2016-2017 Budget

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CONTACTS Phone 816-531-2131

Fax 816-756-5651

Website allsoulskc.org

Minister: Rev. Dr. Kendyl Gibbons, minister@allsoulskc.org 816-531-2131, x 101

Board President: Ruth Robarge,

board@allsoulskc.org

Intern Minister: Jordinn Nelson Long, intern@allsoulskc.org

Religious Education

Rev. Judith Cady, Minister LRD@allsoulskc.org

Administrator: Rev. Diana Hughes office@allsoulskc.org

Accountant: Alice Ross accountant@allsoulskc.org

Office Associate: Sherry Anspach: sherry@allsoulskc.org

Scheduling: Sue Trowbridge schedule@allsoulskc.org,

816-518-0925 (cell)

Music Director: Anthony Edwards music@allsoulskc.org

Facilities Mgr: Charles Dickinson,

simpsonhousekc@gmail.com 816-533-5058

Custodians: Elsafi Ahmed, Miho Komatsu

Flame June 2016 submissions deadline: 9am May 10 Sunday Morning bulletins & Friday e-mail deadline: 9 a.m. Wednesdays Send all submissions to Rev. Diana Hughes: office@allsoulskc.org

Directories Any member or friend who has chosen to be in the directory may receive one, printed or electronic. Is yours out of date (older than a month)? Contact the church office and request your new copy.