Finding Your Rhythm in Times of Crisis by Andy Ray

Friday: UUFA Mission and Vision for 2019-2020 – Friday, October 18th 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm  All are welcome and encouraged to attend a gathering of UUFA members and friends to discuss direction of our fellowship community for this coming year.  We will meet this Friday, October 18th from 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm in the main sanctuary. We will have pizza provided and some beverages.  If you would like to bring a food item to share that is great but not required. If you are unable to attend but have some thoughts to share about our direction, please contact Barb Harrison, UUFA President – barbunday@gmail.com OR 740-707-6197 . If you would like to join via zoom – send Barb an email at barbunday@gmail.com and she will send you the link to the zoom meeting.

SUNDAY October 20, 2019: “Finding Your Rhythm in Times of Crisis.” For many years, Andy Ray chased balance, only to find it more fleeting the more he tried. After much thought and discussion with friends and some family members, he slowly came to realize some key pieces about balance. Like a bird in flight (and similar to playing a prayer bowl), balance requires awareness, sensitivity, and constant adjustment. While he worked on improving balance in the years that came, his family’s arrival to Athens almost two years ago put his life balance to the test. Andy will discuss why he lost his balance and the steps he took to regain it. Subtopics include: rhythm, nature, knowledge, sadness, support system, and eccentricity (“the happy outsider”). Coffee 10:30am, Service 11:00am. 184 Longview Heights Road, Athens, Ohio 45701

WALTZ CLASS On Friday, October 25th at 6 p.m.at the fellowship. Offered by Lois Gladchild. Though individuals will need to choose to either learn to lead or to follow, there will be no sex or gender assignments to those roles.  You do not need to bring a partner.  (We will work around the turnout that we have.) This is intended to be a light-hearted class with the goal of learning to joyfully move to music while communicating with your dance partner.  It would be helpful to know about how many folks will be there, so if you’d RSVP to Lois via email at GLADCHILDL@gmail.com, it would be good, but not required.  If you have questions, please contact Lois via email or telephone or speak with her at fellowship meetings. It’s best if your feet can slide on the floor.  So please either wear leather soled shoes, or heavy socks.

The Unitarian Universalist Association’s Common Read Program This program serves as a tie-in to our upcoming Nov. 24th service. Please consider reading either book in advance of our Nov. 24th service. The following is a description of the books from the UUA website:

The Common Read Selection Committee is pleased to announce that An Indigenous Peoples’ History of the United States by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz (Beacon Press, 2015) and An Indigenous Peoples’ History of the United States for Young People adapted by Jean Mendoza and Debbie Reese (Beacon Press, 2019) are the new Common Read.

In 2015, Beacon Press published an extraordinary book by Indigenous scholar and activist Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz that challenged readers to learn US history through a narrative that centers the story, the experiences, and the perspectives of Indigenous peoples. In 2019, Beacon Press published an adaptation for young people by Jean Mendoza and Debbie Reese. Upending myths and misinformation that have been promulgated by leaders and media, it asks readers to reconsider the origin story of the United States taught to every US school child.

In 2020, our nation will approach the 400th anniversary of the much-mythologized encounter at Plymouth between colonists and those native to the land, and our own General Assembly 2020, in Providence, RI, will speak to the truths that contradict the mythology. At the same time, movements in response to global and local environmental emergencies, many involving UUs, are increasingly recognizing the connection between Indigenous rights and climate justice. This Common Read invites UU congregations, communities, and individuals to learn the story of trauma and resilience that is the Indigenous Peoples’ History of the United States.

From the UU Church of Akron’s Racial Justice Task Force:

On November 15 and 16 The UU Church of Akron’s Racial Justice Task Force will be hosting speaker and facilitator Dr. David Campt.  Dr. Campt is the author of the White Ally Toolkit and former advisory board member for President Bill Clinton’s Initiative on Race.  His unique approach to handling difficult conversations has provided opportunities for folks to navigate the current unprecedented polarization of ideology without compromising values.

On Friday evening Dr. Campt will present Connection Trumps Conflict, an interactive talk.  This is free and open to the public.  A suggested $20 donation at the door is welcome.  Saturday, we host an all-day workshop intensive, Dismantling Racism One Conversation at a Time.  The fee for the workshop is $65 which includes lunch and materials.  A sliding scale is offered.

We are encouraging social justice groups, faith-based organizations, educators, diversity workers and cross-cultural organizations to attend.  More info and registration can be found at www.uurjtf.org.

Even if you think you are too far to bring a group to the workshop, having a representative attend will give you the opportunity to explore what you might want to bring back to your congregation.  Attached is an information packet [UUFA Editor’s Note: the pdf is attached far below].  Please feel free to distribute the information as you are able.  We hope to see you in November.  If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact me directly.

Important links: Registration and information www.uurjtf.org
Facebook event page https://www.facebook.com/events/383125495930329/

Deb Lemire, Co-chair 330-701-6887

FUTURE SUNDAYS – Subject to change—your ideas welcome. The next programming committee meeting is online via Zoom on Friday, November 8th at 6pm. All welcome to participate. To participate, download Zoom and ask us for the Zoom invitation in advance. – Katie, Brian, Susan & Wenda.

Sunday, October 27th: Samhain with Roberta & Barb and the UUFA Choir

Sunday, November 3rd: delfin bautista

Sunday, November 10th: Rev. Don Rollins

Sunday, November 17th: Brian Richards on Love

Sunday, November 24th: Katie Evans on Indigenous Peoples’ Rights

Sunday, December 1st: Susan Westenbarger on Gratitude with Attitude

Sunday, December 8th: Rev. Don Rollins

Sunday, December 15th: Yule Service

Sunday, December 22nd: Nate Hayes

CHRISTMAS EVE, December 24th: Our special Christmas Eve service.

HOW TO SUBMIT ITEMS FOR THIS GREENSHEET NEWSLETTER:  Please email items to wendasheard@yahoo.com and put “Greensheet” in the subject line. New ideas, new columns, announcements, artwork, photographs, biographies, joys, sorrows, birthdays, anniversaries, and whatnot all welcome for possible inclusion in the Greensheet. Deadline for each week: Midnight Monday. Thanks!

[pdf-embedder url=”http://uuathensoh.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Campt-Press-Packet.pdf” title=”Campt Press Packet”]