N ewsletter of the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Salina h ttp://h ttp://a lso “Like” us (Salina UU Fellowship) on facebookY OU ARE INVITED AND WELCOME t o join us for conversationw ith coffee and treats… the SERVICE BEGINS at 10:30 am

Sunday Forum on March 1st at 9:15 amB.Y.O.T. (Bring Your Own Topic). The topics might include memories of Kobe, the latest political scandal, how to jump out of the bed in the morning raring to go or some other item suggested by our loquacious Forum attenders.

Sunday Service on March 1st at 10:30 amA Spiritual Odyssey. George Kramer shares with us this morning on his spiritual journey. Born of working class parents to be a follower of Jesus. Then becoming a teacher and reaching for God. Daring to challenge tradition, he could not assimilate Godliness by faith alone. Come and learn more!

Sunday Forum on March 8th at 9:15 amB.Y.O.T. (Bring Your Own Topic). The topics might include memories of Kobe, the latest political scandal, how to jump out of the bed in the morning raring to go or some other item suggested by our loquacious Forum attenders.

Sunday Service on March 8th at 10:30 amUU the Vote. Learn more about a non-partisan faith initiative to engage our neighbors, educate our

communities, and mobilize voters. Join members of theSalina League of Women Voters, Emma Doherty, AnnZimmerman, Diana Tarver and Joan Ratzlaff as we celebrate theLeague's history and 100th birthday. Today we introduce our new partnership, 'Salina Votes'.

Sunday Forum on March 15th at 9:15 amB.Y.O.T. (Bring Your Own Topic). The topics might include memories of Kobe, the latest political scandal, how to jump out of the bed in the morning raring to go or some other item suggested by our loquacious Forum attenders.

Sunday Service on March 15th at 10:30 amSojourner Truth. After graduation from Saint Paul School of Theology, Reverend Dee Williamston was appointed to serve as the Senior Pastor of Mentor UMC in Mentor, Kansas, followed by serving Salina Quayle UMC and finally at First UMC in Independence. Then in July 2014, she was appointed to serve as the Salina District Superintendent in the Great Plains United Methodist Annual Conference. She currently serves as the Salina-Hays District Superintendent. This morning, she shares with us her perspective on Sojourner Truth.

Sunday Forum on March 22nd at 9:15 amAre You Feeling Lazy? Is laziness truly “a thing”? When people get labeled as lazy is something else at work? Facilitated by Janet Hanson.

Sunday Service on March 22nd at 10:30 amCONnections. The UUFS youth group and friends, will present experiences from their weekend retreat about deepening connections, both within themselves and with other youth. The retreat includes workshops in conflict resolution, stress reduction and self-care, healthy relationships, and soul collage. Come hear what these great kids have to say.

We will have a new member ceremony at the Youth CON service. Anyone interested in becoming a member on that day, should contact Barb Gutsch (785-829-1821).

Sunday Forum on March 29th at 9:15 amThe Demise of the Family Farm? According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the number of farms in the United States has fallen from about 6.8 million in 1935 to only about 2 million today. Is it really happening? Does anyone care? How are local communities affected including schools and hospitals? Facilitated by Glen Lakes.

Sunday Service on March 29th at 10:30 amHigher Worlds. Come and hear the current exhibiting artist in the Visual Voices UU Gallery, Noah Wellbrock-Talley, share with us about his art and his artistic process.

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S unday UUFS Transport Team i s ready and able! We have transporters who will bring folks to services on Sunday mornings. Anyone who wants a ride should call Diana Tarver at 785-643-5664 before 6 o’clock on Saturday night. She will contact the team and have the driver confirm with the rider. We want you to call when you need a ride!

Friday, March 6th from 4:30 pm to 6:00 pm - F irst Friday Visual Voices Opening Reception with NoahW ellbrock-TalleyNoah Wellbrock-Talley, who grew up in Salina and graduated from Central HS, will be around for questions and conversation at the Artist Reception. Music for the reception will be provided by Bryson Thomas, thanks to an Arts and Humanities grant.

P opcorn Theology ( grades 4-8) meetings are on hold for a bit to determine what will best fit this age group.

Y outh Group ( grades 9-12) – Youth group will meet at 6:30 pm on March 1st to learn about voter registration.

Youth Group is planning a youth con based on CONnections (Connection to myself feels like a deep peace, awareness, calm, authenticity. Connections to others feels like compassion, community,acceptance, and enduring love.) Join the UUFS youth group for a weekend of deepening connections. This will take place at our fellowship from Friday evening, March 20th to Sunday morning, March 22nd. We will need a lot of support from the adults in our fellowship with food for meals, preparing meals, overnight support, please talk with one of our high school youth if you are willing and able to help out…thank you!

Sunday, March 15th is the M onthly Board Meeting , following the service

The fellowship board meets once a month to discuss important items pertaining to our faith community. All members and friends are welcome to attend these meetings. Members are able to vote on issues that come to a vote during the meeting. Your voice and your vote are important to us!

President – Dianne Neustrom Vice President - David Hanson

d neu@twinvalley.netd chanson46@att.net

Treasurer and Past President - Diana Tarver d tarver4@hotmail.comSecretary – Glen Lakes g lakes@cox.netMember at Large – Joe Rubino – Spirituality p athoheart@yahoo.comMember at Large - Rod Franz – Place and Community r franz1952@cox.net

Member at Large - Mona Hargraves – Transformation m rhargrave226@gmail.comLay Leader – Barb Gutsch b jgutsch@cox.net

Sunday, April 19th – N ew Member DayWe invite you to join us in membership; just contact or our lay leader, Barb Gutsch at b jgutsch@cox.netor Glen Lakes at g lakes@cox.net). There is no requirement that you believe a particular doctrine. We ask only that when you become a Member you commit yourself to the deep concern and open dialogue which gives our Fellowship purpose. As Unitarian Universalists we are not very pushy about membership. That may lead some of our visitors or friends to even believe that we aren’t particularly interested in having them as a member. That is NOT true. Almost every Sunday, our conveners speak of sustaining and strengthening this place which is sacred to so many of us, a community of memory and hope, for we are now the keepers of the of the dream.

S oul Matters Sharing Circles w ill be meeting in March with the topic, People of WisdomPlease contact Barb Gutsch (785-829-1821) if you are interested in learning more about Soul Matters small groups. Find musical inspiration on each theme by following our monthly Spotify lists:

h ttps:// www.soulmatterssharingcircle.com/spotify-lists.html Get daily inspiration on the monthly theme by liking our Soul Matters Facebook Inspiration Page:

https:// www.facebook.com/soulmatterssharingcircle/

M editation Groups Let David Norlin know if you are interested in having a meditation groupgoing at the fellowship again. There is a group meeting for meditation and chanting every new moon and full moon, ask Willow about this if you have an interest in Tibetan Buddhism.

W e are looking for a few good people... t o get out the vote!The Salina League of Women Voters in partnership with other Salina organizations is working to get ALL of the citizens of Salina and Saline County registered, educated on current issues and TO THE POLLS this year. To that end, we begin by offering training sessions to teach individuals how to register others to vote. We have 4 training sessions scheduled for the next few weeks. Please try to get some of the members of your group to attend. Then they will be able to come back and register ALL of your group, their friends, family and neighbors. It’s fast, easy and, we hope, fun! Here are the dates:Sunday, March 1st from 6:30-7:30 p.m. at Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 901 Beatrice

Monday, March 2nd from 7:00-8:00 p.m. at the McKenzie Center Classroom (across from the Library, 301E. Elm St., Salina)Saturday, March 7th from 10:00-11:00 a.m. at the McKenzie Center Classroom Wednesday, March 11th from 5:30-6:30 p.m. at the McKenzie Center Classroom

C ommunity InformationThe Kansas Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP) is a federally funded program that helps eligible households pay a portion of their home energy costs by providing a one-time per year benefit. Benefit levels vary according to the following factors: 1) Household income, 2) number of persons living at the address, 3) type of dwelling, 4) type of heating fuel, and 5) utility rates.

You can apply online or download an application on the Department for Children and Families' O nlineA pplication for Benefits website. Please visit the Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services website to learn more about the L IEAP program. Or call: 1 -800-432-0043.

... and registration has opened for General Assembly 2020! Please join us Wednesday, June 24 through Sunday, June 28, 2020 in Providence, Rhode Island for this 5-day immersive experience themed Rooted, Inspired & Ready! Join your faith family at inspirational worship services, informative workshops and a bustlingexhibit hall. For more info, go to w ww.uua.org/ga

P odcasts: Have you missed a service that you really wanted to attend? Goto h ttp://uusalina.org/sermon-podcasts.html to listen to audio recordings of services.U UFS Compassion FundIf you know of a Fellowship member or friend (person who attends) who might be in need of the Fellowship's support with a food card, cash, or through connections with a local agency, please contact one

of our compassion fund team, Jackie Ash, Mona Hargrave and Barb Gutsch. We want the Fund to be active - with funds and other help coming in and going out. The purpose of the Fund is to show that we care and take care of each other.C ards for Fellowship Celebrations and ConcernsPlease let Teri Harrington know if there is someone that you believe could benefit from receiving a card from our Fellowship. She can be contacted by email att eriyaki315@hotmail.com or by cell phone at 785-342-4817.H ow Can You Help Out? – Needs at our Fellowship Please look for opportunities to help out our fellowship and talk to a board member about

the area that you’d like to help out or see a need…you can find a way to express your talents and creativity!Talk with LaNay Meier if you can help out on the grounds. Interested in becoming a convener for Sunday services? Want to know more about how a UUFS service is created? Contact Barb Gutsch(b jg u tsch @ co x .ne t ) to get involved in a convener training class.

M ISSION STATEMENT o f the U nitarian Universalist Fellowship of Salina – To provide a place forpersonal spiritual growth within an open and affirming community, actively promoting peace, reason and the transformation of our world.

March 6th is First Friday Night Live! at Visual Voices at UU: Noah Wellbrock-Talley, who grew up in Salina and graduated from Central HS, will be around for questions and conversation at the Artist Reception. Music for the reception will be provided by Bryson Thomas, thanks to an Arts and Humanities grant.

ARTIST STATEMENT: Seeing Art as a Vehicle Which Elevates the World Around Us

“Prior to the 19th century, the legacy of much of art history could be soundly surmised as man’s attempt to grasp at divinity. Artists concerned themselves with representing a spiritual other, but were naturally limited to doing so through their own individualized earthly lens. The 20th century then turned creativity inward, and artists began to explore the material and the subjective, ultimately championing self- expression. This resulted in the discovery of a human divinity, reversing man’s original artistic dilemma:now, rather than translating divinity through a material lens, artists could filter the material through their intrinsic empyrean nature. Where before they found their masterpieces through diluted interpretations of so-called “higher worlds,” the 21st century sees art as a vehicle which elevates the world around us, revealing the majesty that pervades the mundane, and ultimately nullifying the demarcation which would hold these two planes as separate.”

- Noah Wellbrock-Talley, a Salina Central Graduate, and a candidate for Bachelor’s degree, FHSU, Art Education.

Exhibitions at Art at UU – Visual Voices are determined by a committee, and change every two months. Artists interested in showing their two-dimensional work at Art at UU – Visual Voices can receive an application; please send an email to u usalina@cox.net. Anyone can make an appointment to see the current exhibition by emailing same address as above. The work is also on view Sunday mornings during the Forum discussion group at 9:15am and the UU service which begins at 10:30am. All are welcome.

What Does It Mean To Be A People of Wisdom?When the topic of wisdom comes up, so do the usual images. Walls and walls filled with dusty old books. Elders with the wisdom of many years carved into the wrinkles on their faces. Diplomas framed and filling one’s office wall. Endless letters placed in front and behind your name (Dr., PhD, LCSW, JD, Rev., etc.)

The message: wisdom is about accumulation. If you want to be wise, you need to pile it on. More knowledge. More experience. More books to read. More gurus to follow.More degrees to get.

But then words like these sneak into the conversation:

Knowledge is a process of piling up facts; wisdom lies in their simplification.- Martin H. Fischer

There is no need to “acquire” the knowledge of God. There is only the dropping of the illusion and forgetfulness.

- Omid Safi

Besides the noble art of getting things done, there is the noble art of leaving things undone. The wisdom of life consists in the elimination of non-essentials.

- Lin Yutang

It’s a reminder that the math of wisdom is often the opposite of what we think. It’s more a game of subtraction than addition. Often, accumulation of knowledge doesn’t get us closer to wisdom; it’s just in the way. There’s a sorting, simplifying and stripping away that needs to occur. It’s about unknowing as much as knowing.

Just think about how deeply we get tangled up in those cultural messages about money and success. Or the way degrees, IQs tests and SAT numbers get mixed up with status rather than the pursuit of truth. Or the way political parties, religions and even science claim to have all the answers. Maybe this is why the Sufi poet Hafiz wrote:

The Beloved sometimes wants To do us a great favor:Hold us upside down

And shake all the nonsense out.

And with all the nonsense shaken out and stripped away, maybe what we notice most is not so much the pearls of wisdom themselves, but the sources of wisdom we’ve forgotten.

When reason and logic hog the spotlight, the wisdom of the body rarely enters the room. When week-long retreats with the newest guru define the path to wisdom, we stop asking what our failures and mistakes are trying to teach us. When “experts” sit in the center, the wisdom of those on the margins is lost.

So many untapped sources. So much wisdom waiting to be known.

Makes one think that maybe the wisest question of all this month is: “Where have I not looked before?”