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April 7 – James Galasinski IMPROVISATION, FREEDOM AND THE MEANING OF JAZZ
Jazz, much like Unitarian Universalism, is essentially an improvised democratic process that is constantly changing and evolving. It combines the most individualistic act of the solo with the collective decision-making of the group. James will touch on the origins of jazz and also explore what improvisation is, how we do it in our daily lives and may not even realize it, and what musicians and non-musicians alike can learn from the art of improvisation.
James Galasinski has a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Jazz Studies from Cardinal Stritch University, free-lances as a jazz bassist in the Milwaukee area, and is a member of First Unitarian Society of Milwaukee for three years.
Ryan Miesel, composer, arranger and multi-saxophonist, got his bachelors of music from the UW-Madison and his Master’s from the Northern Illinois University.
Celia Faye is a freelance musician and music educator. She runs a teaching studio in her home, teaches at the White House of Music in Germantown, and serves as the Music-Coordinator at West Granville Presbyterian Church in Milwaukee.
Music: Bob Judd; The Meisel Music Collective Trio: Ryan Meisel – saxophones, James Galasinski – bass, and Celia Faye – vocals and saxophone Service Leader: Cynthia Stiehl
April 14 – Rev. Dr. Bobbie Groth SOWN IN TEARS: UNITARIAN LETTERS FROM BLEEDING KANSAS
Rev. Dr. Bobbie Groth will talk about her great, great grandfather, the Unitarian missionary to the Kansas Territory in 1855, and reflect upon the lessons for our time in her book, The Incredible Story of Ephraim Nute: Scandal, Bloodshed, and Unitarianism on the American Frontier, new UU historical research published by Skinner House, a UUA imprint, in 2010.
Rev. Dr. Bobbie Groth, a UU Community minister who served victims of violence in the Milwaukee area for over 20 years, now focuses on interfaith relations there as Secretary to the Interfaith Conference of Greater Milwaukee. She is a weaver, spinner, dog-lover, hiker, mother, grandmother, and plays fiddle in the Celtic band she runs with her husband, Don Lawson, an electrical engineer, and hammered dulcimer player.
Music: Bob Judd Service Leader: Susan Leeder
April 21 – Dick Smythe CLOSE ENCOUNTERS WITH OTHER CREATURES
Why do we know so little and care so little about the many creatures with whom we share this planet? We will, very briefly, visit five "animals." A couple that are reasonably familiar, for example a white-tailed deer, and several that are less familiar, for example, a leopard. We will ask what, if anything, we might learn and how we might benefit from similar experiences.
Dick Smythe is an entomologist retired from the research division of the US Forest Service. Before kindergarten he started collecting feathers and insects. In college he majored in biology, and then earned a PhD in entomology. Throughout his lifetime, Dick has
maintained an interest in the natural world. He is active in a number of environmental organizations, is an avid reader, especially in the biological sciences and theology, and enjoys being out-of-doors throughout the year.
Music: Donna Russell Service Leader: Marilyn Hansotia
April 28 - Sharon Auberle, David Clowers, Larry Eriksson, Hanne Gault, Phil Hansotia, Cynthia Johnson, Estella Lauter, Cynthia Oliver, Nancy Rafal, Jack Redell, Henry Timm
POETRY SUNDAY: EARTH SPIRIT RISING
One of the seven principles Unitarian Universalists agree to affirm and promote is "respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part." On Poetry Sunday each April, poets in the congregation have developed the custom of writing and reading original poems based on a theme. This year we have decided to address the Earth--our only home, a source of great joy and intense concern at the moment. Speaking from memories of long ago and far away or from current experience, in voices that range from reverent to ironic, serious to playful, we will seek to awaken a fresh response to the Earth. After the service, we will celebrate the publication of the fourth volume of poems from the Dickinson Poetry Series 2012-2013 in honor of Poetry Month.
Music: Gerri Friedberg; the UUFDC choir, Cynthia Stiehl, conductor, Donna Russell, accompanist Service Leader: Estella Lauter
UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST FELLOWSHIP OF DOOR
COUNTY
April 2013
Volume 17, Issue 4
April Sunday Services
APRIL 2013 UU UPDATE 2
President’s Column By Bob Lindahl
Growth is exciting…and with it come many delightful challenges!
We all want to be good NEIGHBORS to the Green Gable Shoppes to our north! With increased attendance and the pleasure of many visitors, we must double up on efforts to park in front and behind our building, or on the Hwy 42 side of the Green Gables lot. When the snow is gone, add the Incidentals lot north of GG and the radio station to our south. Most GG shops are open during our Sunday services, and a new coffee shop will open soon. Let’s be sure we give their customers first priority in using space in front of their stores.
Having to deal with too many cars for our parking lot is a GOOD problem to have!
Among newcomers to our Fellowship are several younger adults and young families. How exciting it is for your Board to be addressing ways to support our new attendees and integrate their talents and needs into our mix! Very soon, plans will be announced for increased support in Religious Education and childcare. Further work in our unfinished back area, for more classroom space, will be started soon. Our Choir is growing by the month! Our Social Responsibility Committee has several new attendees with passion for social justice and the environment. Under the umbrella of the SRC, the Climate Change Coalition is meeting regularly, with a core of new energy.
Want a quiet “church in the wildwood…a little brown church in the vale”, that is staid in tradition? Hold onto your hats, because if you are, you’re in the wrong place! If you’re looking for the best place for you to serve and share in our excitement, see any Board member with a yellow nametag.
Looking for a meaningful way to travel and serve in a broader way? Check
out the UU College of Social Justice at http://uucsj.org/calendar/. How exciting it would be if our Fellowship, or individual members in it, banded together to provide some scholarships to our HS youth to attend one of the youth service-learning opportunities highlighted in this post. Come on Spring!!
Dollars and $ense By Juliana Neuman, Treasurer
At its April meeting the Governing Board will approve a final draft of the budget for 2013-14.
Growth in numbers is exciting and leads us to consider new possibilities. Some younger members have starting attending our services, with children in tow. This is a highly desirable turn of events, but one which demands an adaptive response. Paid childcare might be part of the answer. As we expand in size, our need for paid services continues to increase—we can no longer do everything ourselves. I know that our stalwart members who have served on cleaning teams will be happy to know that this budget includes a weekly cleaning service.
During April, UUFDC’s members and friends will receive letters requesting continued financial support for the Fellowship. We ask again that you consider increasing your pledge if at all possible. Please return your pledge
GOVERNING BOARD
Officers
President
Bob Lindahl
920-421-2470
Vice President
Karon Winzenz
920-823-2189
Secretary
Dianne Trenchard
920-854-4085
Treasurer
Juliana Neuman
920-839-2710
Past President
Cynthia Stiehl
920-854-5048
Directors
Building & Grounds
Dave Vermillion
Education and
Enrichment
Helene Di Iulio
Finance
Juliana Neuman
Social Responsibility
Garrett Cohn
At Large
Alan Kopischke
Sam Carmen
Our mission is to be a
community of faith
committed to the freedom of
intellectual and spiritual
inquiry and to the
promotion of the worth and
dignity of all persons,
through service to its
members, friends and the
larger community.
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ECO SOLUTIONS
The “Climate Change Protection Act of 2013” needs our full support. Bill No. 332 is authored by Barbara Boxer & Bernie Sanders of the Environment Committee. Carbon taxing businesses based on CO2 emissions is the centerpiece. Additionally, there are incentives for renewable energy R&D and dividends to citizens based on prudent energy practices. Write or phone our Congress-persons today!
APRIL 2013 UU UPDATE 3
statement right away, so that we can finalize the budget prior to the Fellowship’s annual meeting in June. Please keep in mind that the pledge you will make is for July 1 of 2013 through June 30 of 2014. Some members prefer to pre-pay their pledges, but it is not necessary to send any money at this time. You can indicate on the pledge statement the payment plan that will work best for you. Your support, at whatever level you can manage, is essential to the vitality of the Fellowship.
DONATIONS Many heartfelt thanks to the following members and friends who responded generously to our appeal for help with paying down the mortgage: Cynthia and Al Johnson, Lynn Lees, Cyndy Stiehl, Karen and Larry Eriksson, Bob Lindahl, Lois and David Murphy, Arlene Johnson, Nancy and Jay Dickson, Karon and Jerry Winzenz, Leonette Tackenberg, Carolyn Zahn Waxler and Morris Waxler. Your contributions will make it possible to expand the programs and services that UUFDC offers.
A New Shape for our UUA District
The Central Midwest District of the UUA is planning a merger with two geographically adjacent districts, the Heartland District to the East and the Prairie Star District to the West. The staff members of all three districts will continue to provide services to congregations in this expanded area, often using internet technology such as webinars and Skype for information sessions and training. Delegates at each district’s annual conference will vote for or against this merger. Juliana Neuman plans to represent UUFDC at the Central Midwest District conference, April 26-28. Please inform yourself about the merger at www.midamericauua.org and let Juliana know of your questions/opinions.
The UU Book Club By Karon Winzenz
After our March hiatus we will meet on April 3rd at 1:30 pm to discuss What Money Can't Buy; the Moral Limits of
Markets by Michael J. Sandel. This critique of the commoditization of nearly all aspects of our society is a perfect read for UU members; we welcome anyone who is interested. For more information see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f1IDjAAOwCs. Our hostess, Lynn Lees, will send emails regarding location of the meeting closer to the date (hopefully the snow will be gone).
Starting at 1:30 pm on May 1st, Jami Hanreddy will host a discussion of The Butterfly Mosque: A Young American Woman's Journey to Love and Islam by G. Willow Wilson (shown here ). An autobiography that reads like a novel, this is the extraordinary story (post 9/11) of an all-American girl’s conversion to Islam. Our narrator enrolls in an Islamic Studies course that leads to her
conversion to Islam. She settles in Cairo and teaches English, submerges herself in a culture based on her adopted religion, and meets Omar, a passionate young man with a mild resentment of Western influences in his homeland. They enter into a relationship that calls into question the very nature of family, belief, and tradition. The story is about navigating between radically different cultures to sustain a marriage. “Torn between the secular West and Muslim East”, Willow records her intensely personal struggle to forge a “third culture that might accommodate her own values without compromising the friends and family on both sides of the divide.”
Movies That Matter Screens A Chemical Reaction
The Philadelphia Inquirer has called Paul Tukey “the Al Gore of lawn care.” Tukey will be in Door County at the end of this
Dickinson Poetry Features Cynthia Stiehl
Mezzo soprano Cynthia Stiehl will be featured in the UU Fellowship’s Dickinson Poetry Series on Wednesday, April 10 at 7 pm. Through poetry, melody and human feeling, Ms. Stiehl’s presentation, entitled “Poetical Interpretation”, will examine how singers choose, interpret and present text to their audiences. She will be accompanied by Judith Jackson on the piano.
Known for her recitals of American art song, opera and musical theater, Ms. Stiehl’s repertoire extends from Bach to Cole and beyond. She has appeared as guest soloist with symphonies, choirs, and ensembles in Florida, Massachusetts, Oregon and Wisconsin. Door County audiences are familiar with Ms. Stiehl’s numerous benefit performances for local non-profit organizations. She has performed Samuel Barber’s “Dover Beach” and Aaron Copland’s “American Songs,” as well as premiering works by Richard Cumming, written especially for her. Ms. Stiehl has several CDs to her credit, most notably her memorable recital with John Browning recorded at Björklunden. She is proud to serve on the UUFDC Board of Directors and several other Boards in Door County.
On the second Wednesday of every month the Dickinson Poetry Series features a renowned local or regional poet followed by an open mic, providing an opportunity for others to read their poetry. A reception follows affording an opportunity to meet the poets. The Series is named for Emily Dickinson, a prolific poet and philosophically in tune with Unitarian beliefs. The public is welcome and there is no charge.
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APRIL 2013 UU UPDATE 4
month (April 26 at Crossroads at Big Creek; April 27 at the Sustainability Fair). In preparation for his visit, Movies That Matter will screen A Chemical Reaction on Tuesday, April 16 at 4:30 pm.
This 70-minute Emmy nominated documentary, produced by Tunkey, tells the story of the tiny town of Hudson, Quebec, where the use of all chemical pesticides and herbicides were banned. The resulting battle fought against the mighty chemical companies went all the way to the Supreme Court, where the town’s right to protect its citizens was upheld.
Tukey followed this case for years; he had once owned a lawn care business and became seriously ill from applying chemical products. As a result he became one of the nation’s leading experts on organic lawn care and the author of the top book on organic lawn care, The Organic Lawn Care Manual. For more information visit safelawns.org
The Caring Committee The Caregivers for April are: Mary Smythe: [email protected] or 8543330 and Marilyn Hansotia: [email protected] or 854-9360.
There will be a meeting of the caring committee on Tuesday, April 9th at 9:30 am at the Fellowship.
UUFDC Zero Waste Weekend By Judy Brodd The UU’s Social Responsibility Committee (SRC) is sponsoring a “Zero Waste Weekend” to celebrate Earth Day and promote the health of our community. On Friday, April 19, at 6:00 pm we will be having a Vegan Potluck. We ask that everyone bring their own plates, utensils, cloth napkins, and cups as well as a bag to take home all leftovers. Similar to the Clearing potlucks, we will leave nothing behind! Bring a dish to pass as well as your own beverages (wine or whatever you wish). Look for a sign-up sheet and vegan recipes to share in our lobby several Sundays before the
event. Please sign up! On Sunday, April 21, Dick Smythe will be speaking at our service on Close Encounters with Other Creatures. SRC will provide the refreshments after the service including locally produced and purchased food items. We plan to make this a “Zero Waste” event as well as using washable plates, cups and cloth napkins. Join us for these fun events; every little bit makes a difference in caring for our world.
Jazz at the Fellowship Milwaukee’s Meisel Music Collective Trio will perform at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship on Saturday, April 6 at 7 pm. The trio features Ryan Meisel on saxophones, James Galasinski on bass, and Celia Faye, vocalist and saxophonist. The trio has been playing together for over five years. They will perform selections from the entire history of jazz while drawing from rock, blues, folk and pop influences. Admission is just $10 and a complimentary reception will follow the performance.
The UU Education and Enrichment Committee will show the documentary Two Who Dared: The Sharps’ War on Wednesday, May 1 at 7:00 pm. This film tells the story of Waitstill and Martha Sharp,an American Unitarian minister and his wife, who boldly committed to a life-threatening mission in Europe to help save imperiled Jews and refugees at the onset of World War II.
In January of 1939, Unitarian Church leader Everett Baker called the Sharps and asked them to undertake a dangerous new project. The American Unitarian Association wanted them to travel to Czechoslovakia, where there was a large Unitarian community, to lead an emergency relief mission that church leaders described as “the first intervention against evil undertaken by the denomination.” Baker had approached 17 other couples prior to the Sharps, and all had refused this post. Waitstill and Martha committed to the dangerous undertaking arriving in Prague shortly before the Nazis conquered the capital and the rest of the country. In an atmosphere fraught with danger and violence, the couple
spent seven months aiding refugees. The Sharps were consistently followed by Nazi police and had to learn how to evade Gestapo patrols. Their offices were ransacked, and they faced arrest when the Nazis ordered all refugee aid and assistance to cease.
Despite these mounting dangers, the Sharps remained in Prague until August of 1939, when they heard a rumor that they were to be arrested the very next day. The Sharps left Prague and, after a brief return to their home in Wellesley, they accepted another mission from the newly formed Unitarian Service Committee. They spent most of 1940 working in war-torn France, where the Sharps helped intellectuals, Jews, and other at-risk individuals flee the country
and provided aid to desperate refugees. Because of their actions to save Jews, the Sharps were named “Righteous Among the Nations” by Yad Vashem, Israel’s Holocaust memorial and museum. They are two of only three Americans to be so honored.
Don’t miss this opportunity to be inspired by two Unitarians who chose to make a difference. Admission is by donation to the filmmakers at the door.
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Israel’s Holocaust Memorial Honors UU’s
APRIL 2013 UU UPDATE 5
Climate Change Coalition Organizing for Action
The Climate Change Coalition will meet on Wednesday, April 3 at 4 pm. This group of concerned citizens is sponsored by the Social Responsibility Committee of the UU Fellowship and is working to raise awareness about climate change. The upcoming meeting will focus on creating work groups to tackle our list of prioritized tasks. All meetings of the CCC will be held on the first Wednesday of every month at 4:00 pm. If you would like to join the CCC, email your contact information to [email protected].
Herbie Hardt
There will be no services for Herbie Hardt who died on March 15. Donations in his memory can be made to the Gibraltar Historical Society or Southern Poverty Law Center.
Where is the _______???
Now that the new office is complete and Pat is moved in, many people are trying to find things. In general, if you are looking for something that used to be kept in the closets in the RE room, go to the front closet off of the sanctuary. This is where office supplies are now kept. Things that used to be kept in this closet are now behind the white curtains. This is where the hymnals, TV, battery and cell phone recycling are. Sunday morning supplies, including the activity bags for kids and instructions for volunteers, are kept in the cabinets in the new office. If you cannot find something just ask Pat.
Emily Dickinson Poetry Series for 2013-2014 Announced
To commemorate National Poetry Month, the Emily Dickinson Poetry Series is pleased to announce an exciting list of featured poets for its fifth series, beginning in April. Seven of the readings will feature poets new to the series: Cyndy Stiehl with Judith Jackson, Mary Gray Kaye, Cynthia Oliver, Richard E. Carter and Carolyn Kenney-Carter, Susan T. Moss, Patrick Moran, and Karla Huston. Look for new elements this year including poetry into song, poetry accompanied by art works connected to the poems, and dual readings. This much loved monthly poetry event is a program of the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Door County.
The schedule for 2012-2013 is as follows:
2013
April 10 - Cynthia Stiehl with Judith Jackson
May 8 - Mary Gray Kaye
June 12 - Cynthia Oliver
July 10 - Gary Jones
August 14 - Richard E. Carter and Carolyn Kenney-Carter
September 11 - Susan T. Moss
October 9 - Jack Redell
November 13 - Cynthia Johnson
December 11 - Sharon Auberle and Ralph Murre
2014
January 8 - Patrick Moran
February 12 - Youth Readers
March 12 - Cathy Cofell and Karla Huston
The poetry community in Door County is extremely vital. The Dickinson Series features both beginning and established poets and provides a comfortable setting for the reading of new work. These evenings also attract new listeners, some of whom then become readers. The series is intended to enhance both the appreciation and the writing of poetry.
All readings are held the second Wednesday of the month, at 7 pm. Brochures describing the series are available at local libraries, bookstores, and information centers. The readings are free and open to the public. All those who love poetry are welcome and encouraged to attend.
Happy Birthday to Members and Friends
Celebrating Birthdays in April:
1 - Bob Salmi; 4 - Kärin Kopischke; 5 - Carolyn Zahn-Waxler;
6 - Gail Jacobs; 7 - Dale Goodner; 9 - Peter Conroy &
Jim Rutter; 12 - Mary Mitchell & Margot Warch;
13 - Jack Travis; 19 - Lulu Schilling; 21 - Sid Gault;
22 - Peter Trenchard; 23 - Lois MacKinney; 24 - Keta Steebs;
29 - Amanda DeWitt; 30 - Ellie Kaage
Up to our Elbows in Flour!
Recently nine Conversation Partners had the best time learning to make tortillas. Much to everyone’s surprise, tortillas use much less fat than breads and there was more kneading than we expected. We found that there is a “special touch” to get the stretch in the dough and it’s not easy rolling them paper thin. But when we were done and delved into the eating part, my-my, there was no comparison to store bought ones.
They were SO good!
UU Update
Mailed Subscription: $15 per year
Emailed Subscription: No charge
Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Door County.
10341 Water Street (Hwy 42) Ephraim
Mailing address:
P. O. Box 859, Sister Bay, WI 54234
Phone: 920-854-7559
Email: [email protected]
Submit information to:
Pat Crow [email protected]
Web page: www.uufdc.org
Sunday Services: 10:00 am
April Calendar of Events For the most up-to-date calendar, please go to: www.uufdc.org/calendar
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
1
1-3 pm Gallery
2 3 Book Group
1:30 pm 1-3 pm Gallery
4 pm - CCC 7 pm U-Night
4
5
1-3 pm Gallery
7 pm
Meisel Music Collective
Trio
7 10 am SERVICE
James Galasinski
11-12:30 Gallery
8
1-3 pm Gallery
9
9:30 am Caring 10 am
Conversation Partners
10
1-3 pm Gallery
Dickinson Poetry
7 pm Cynthia Stiehl
11
12
1-3 pm Gallery
13
14
10 am SERVICE
Rev. Dr. Bobbie Groth
11-12:30 Gallery
15
1-3 pm Gallery
16 Governing
Board 3:30 pm Movies That
Matter 4:30 pm A Chemical
Reaction
17
1-3 pm Gallery
7 pm U-Night
18
19
1-3 pm Gallery
6 pm
Vegan Potluck
NO WASTE
WEEKEND
21 8:30 Choir Rehr
10 am SERVICE
Dick Smythe
11-12:30 Gallery
22
1-3 pm Gallery
23
24
1-3 pm Gallery
25
26
1-3 pm Gallery
27
28 8:30 Choir Rehr
10 am SERVICE
Poetry Sunday
11-12:30 Gallery
29
1-3 pm Gallery
30
It is the greatest of all mistakes to do nothing
because you can only do little. - Sydney Smith