Starr King View
Summer 2008 Newsletter
Sunday Services - 9:30 a.m.
June 29: “Celebrations We Have Known and Loved”
Cindy Spring
Cindy will tell us about one of her favorite birthday celebrations, and will then ask you for favorite times in your lives. Did you help plan a surprise party that worked? Were you surprised by others? Was there a special anniversary? Perhaps a quiet celebration with golden memories. Come and tell us about it.
July 6: “Weaving the Rainbow”
Barrie Sawyer
Poet John Keats accused Isaac Newton of destroying all the poetry of a rainbow by reducing it to prismatic colors; of “unweaving the rainbow.” Barrie will lead an exploration into this bleak assessment with writings from great scientists who have found a deep and uplifting sense of spirituality in the scientific creation story.
July 13: “On Friendship”
Marcia VanderMast
Marcia will led us as we consider what qualities make a good friendship. We’ll share our thoughts about having and being a friend.
July 20: “Trees We Have Known”
Nancy Chaddock
Nancy will tell a few stories about trees she has known, and reflect upon their importance in our lives. Come share your own story about a tree that has brought you joy
July 27: “Discerning Our Way Forward”
Marcia Vander Mast
Led by Marcia, members and friends of the Fellowship will break into small groups, each facilitated by a member of the Board, to share our hopes for SKUUF’s future and to discover how we want to proceed with the expansion of the building.
August 3: “Lammas”
Mark and Elizabeth Becker
Celebration of the first harvest of food and stores for winter
August 10: “To Be Announced”
August 17: “What is Unitarian Universalism?”
The Rev. Sarah C. Stewart preaching.
Bring a friend who is interested in learning more about our liberal religious tradition.
August 24: “Making Peace with the War”
William Hopkins
(This service subject to change)
August 31: “Question Box”
The Rev. Sarah C. Stewart preaching.
Put any questions you have for Sarah—about Unitarian Universalism or anything— in the box in the foyer over the summer. Sarah will answer some of them, randomly pulled from the box, as best she can during the service.
Pemi Float
Friday, August 1, 2008, we are planning our annual kayak and canoe trip down the Pemi. We will gather at SKUFF at 9:00 a.m. and drive up to Robin's Nest where we will start down the river and get out by Campton Sand and Gravel. We should get to Campton Sand and Gravel shortly after 2:00 p.m. If you are planning to join us, please let us know.
In Fellowship
Summer 2008
Do you remember writing essays in school-day Septembers entitled, “What I Did on My Summer Vacation?” This year, I’m planning ahead for what I’ll do during my summer. Here are my plans, and some suggestions for you.
Clean Up. I’m cleaning the piles of paper out of my office, so that when I return on August 11, it will be clean and prepared for a new year of fellowship work. Old magazines and notes are being recycled, important papers are being filed, and I’m coming across new ideas already: small group ministry topics, sermon notes, and reading I’m eager to get to.
Play. I’ll spend my days this summer playing with my son Benedict, who is two years old. We’ll explore our neighborhood, visit with friends, and spend copious amounts of time outside. I’ll see everything new through Ben’s eyes and enjoy the summer as only a child can. On my own, I’ll spend time running on the old railroad bed off Fairgrounds Road, and I hope to enter some local races. Get outside and play!
Study. Some of my time every summer is spent in study and reflection, preparing for sermons and spiritual leadership. This summer, I hope to finish The Making of American Liberal Theology: Imagining Progressive Religion, 1805-1900 by Gary Dorrien. I’m also reading The Talking Book: African Americans and the Bible by Alan Dwight Callahan, and The Prophetic Imagination by Walter Brueggemann. I’ll also strive to spend time every day in prayer, and writing in my journal. In the busyness of the church year, it’s easy to be pulled away from spiritual practice. The summer will help me deepen back into it.
Spend Time With Family. I’ll be home in the evenings and weekends to spend time with my husband, and Ben and I will also make a trip to Michigan to visit my parents. We’ll see my brother and sister-in-law who live in Boston. I’ll visit my grandmother so she can meet Ben for the first time. The slower pace of summer gives us a chance to see our families and build the connections of kinship.
I hope you enjoy your summers and all the opportunity for fun and deepening of the spirit which it brings. One more thing to do over the summer: save up any questions you’d like to put to me during a “Question Box” service on Sunday, August 31. We’ll put all your questions in a box and I will do my best to answer those I pull out. That Sunday will conclude our summer services, before we join together again with our water communion on Sunday, September 7.
In fellowship,
Sarah
Director of Religious Education Search Committee Update
On June 15, The DRE search committee is very pleased to announce that the position of Director of Religious Education has been filled. Today, during a joint meeting of the DRE search and Religious Education Committees, Cindy Spring was interviewed for the position of Director of Religious Education for SKUUF. She was offered this job and she has accepted.
Cindy has vast experience in the area of UU Religious Education as a Director of RE in a large congregation, a RE module leader for the UUA in Boston and as a RE Consultant on the district level. All of us involved in the planning and teaching of our RE programs consider SKUUF to be very fortunate to have someone as qualified as Cindy to take the position.
Cindy will officially begin work as our DRE in July and will spend the summer months getting teaching teams and curriculum in place for September. Look for a teacher-training event to take place in the early fall.
As Chairperson of the DRE Search Committee, Religious Education Committee member and teacher I am grateful and excited to have Cindy Spring accept this position and join our vital and growing Religious Education Program at SKUUF.
Summer Office Hours
During the summer the SKUUF office will be open from 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. every Monday and some Wednesdays.
From Your Prez ~
I hope many of you were at the Service on June 15 because I think Sarah did an excellent job in her sermon “Building Our Dream.” She talked about SKUUF, about our beginning as a religious community and our ability to stretch to welcome new members, call a minister, and build a building. “…we will have failed in expanding the fellowship building if we lose that spirit which makes us who we are. ~ To nurture that spirit, and to find through the wisdom of the congregation the right path forward, the Governing Board will host two opportunities for reflection and discernment in small groups this summer.”
Sarah then explained that the content of both gatherings would be the same, though the format will vary a bit. Choose the one that fits your temperament and schedule.
On Sunday, July 27, Marcia VanderMast and the Board will lead the morning service. It will begin at 9:30 a.m. and childcare will be available.
On Sunday, August 17 there will be a dessert potluck at SKUUF from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at night. No childcare is planned for this one, but older children are welcome to attend.
Information will be collected from both gatherings to help the Board develop the final plan for the addition. We hope that SKUUF members and friends will take advantage of these opportunities to “speak your truth in love.”
And, finally, a word about me. This will be my final article as your President. As of July 1 I will be your new Director of Religious Education. I served as DRE for the Nashua UU Church many years ago and as RE Consultant for the NH/Vt UU District for fifteen years. It feels great to once again be turning my attention to our children and youth.
Enjoy your time away and come back ready to serve. We have an exciting year a head of us!
Building Committee Update:
The building committee is taking a short break while the congregation determines a direction to go with the addition to our fellowship hall. After the July 27 service and August 17 dessert pot luck, the committee will reconvene to discuss the results of these gatherings. So be sure to attend one of these events to share your thoughts and help us on our way to our new addition!
Notes from the Treasurer
Hi Everyone. I hope that you all have a really great summer and that everyone stays healthy. As I write this (June 18), Bev and I are about to leave for Louisville for a memorial service. This will be my trip for the summer- I am just not a traveler any more.
Thank you for your financial support of SKUUF this year, both for the operational budget and for the capital campaign. Our pledge payments as of 4 June were at $115,396 out of a total pledged of $125,490. This has not been a significant problem as our expenses so far this year are down a bit too, but we still have some bills due this month, especially salaries. As most of you know we exceeded our goal of $430,000 for the capital campaign with current pledges of $444,985.
If anyone has a question about the SKUUF finances, please contact Mark Becker or me. I am looking forward to seeing you all and working with you all next year! Peace.
SKUUF Finances Snapshot
as of June 19, 2008
Fiscal Year to Date:
Income $ 131,965.22
Expenses $ 121,710.03
Important Balances
Operating Funds $ 19,534.44
Building Funds* $ 252,117.30
Endowment Funds* $ 12,335.48
This represents only selected funds and liabilities. Please note that this is not a full accounting of assets or liabilities. If you would like more detailed information feel free to talk to Gary, or me.
*These funds represent multiple accounts grouped together.
Remember to wear your Nametag.
It helps Everyone.
Newsletter Deadline
The September Newsletter deadline is Friday, August 22, 2008.
Notes from Budget & Finance
In the report for the annual meeting, there was an omission, for which I have since been properly chastised. In my rather mad scramble to get everything completed for the meeting, I did not include anything about the status of the SKUUF Endowment Fund.
It was a busy year for the fund and it is currently in the middle of a transition. The original donation of $10,000 was invested in the UUA’s General Investment Fund (GIF) as we believed that this would best meet the general spirit of a UU endowment. Over time, the reports from the GIF began to include a line called “non-correlated” investments. There was a great deal of uncertainty of what this represented, and the best that we (Budget & Finance with assistance from Nancy Chaddock) could determine was that this represented a fairly high risk area, including hedge funds. This sort of risk was not in accordance with our understanding of the written GIF investment policy. When questioned, the response was that the policy was under revision, without a clear statement of what the revisions would be. We discussed this at several meetings and came to the conclusion that we did not agree with the investment trend of the GIF.
During the fall of 2007, on a GIF conference call, we indicated that we were considering withdrawing from the fund. The response was “Do what you think is best for your Congregation.” We did and ended our investment of the endowment funds with the UUA GIF. Currently the funds are residing at SKUUF’s local bank (Community Guarantee Savings Bank). One unfinished piece of business that Budget & Finance will deal with at our meeting in June is where to reinvest this money. (I am writing this on 4 June and our B&F meeting will be after the newsletter deadline.)
The current value of the SKUUF Endowment Fund is just under $12,400. Hopefully it will continue to grow and will be graced with additional donations in the future.
I hope that everyone is having a wonderful summer!
September Yard Sale!!
We will be participating in the town wide yard sale again this September. Now is the time to think about cleaning out the barn, or the garage, attic, basement, closets.
Drop your items off at SKUUF in the Junior High room downstairs after July 1st. (Please no mattresses, clothing or large appliances!)
Save your stuff for SKUUF!
UU Action Network
Thanks to everyone from SKUFF who attended the Unitarian Universalist Action Network (UUAN) fund raising party at our house on June 7. In addition to SKUFF members, there were five legislators who attended the party. There was lively discussion about many topics. Connections were made and some ideas about future legislation were shared. Almost $1000 was donated by generous party goers to help UUAN continue.
Social Justice
SKUUF was well represented at the UUAN fund raising party Saturday June 7. We talked to five legislators about UU priorities and they know us a little better. Some money was raised for the UU Action Network as well, but for us political junkies, it was just fun to sit around and share and party at the same time! .
Join the UU Action Network on Saturday, June 28, 2008 as we prepare to educate and turn out voters in New Hampshire who care about the war, the environment, and other key issues.
The training will be fun, practical, and very hands-on. But, yes, there will certainly be time for snacks and lunch, which will be provided!
We will learn:
- Communications - how to talk persuasively about our issues
- Voter contact - methods and targeting
- Volunteer recruitment - how to motivate others to get involved
We will end the day with a very short onsite phonebank or canvass in the nearby neighborhood where you have a chance to immediately apply your skills!
Training Details:
Date: Saturday, June 28, 2008 from 9:30 am to 5:30 pm
Where: Southern NH University, 2500 N. River Road, Manchester, NH, 03106
Parking: Free, onsite
Reserve your spot today!
This kind of training would normally cost over $250 per person, but is FREE to UUSC Just Democracy members.
You can sign up for this important training by visiting: http://www.americavotes.org/page/s/AVNHJune28Trng.
Circle Dinners...
Circle dinners have been a great success this past spring. So... Why not have them more often? Consider hosting a dinner/BBQ/picnic/cookout/brunch or even an afternoon tea over the summer months.
Activities Committee
Sarah will give the blessing
at the Legion Speedway
Our own Rev. Sarah has been asked to give the blessing at the Legion Speedway in West Rumney on Saturday, August 16. It was thought that it would be fun to get a up a group to go that evening and see some car racing on a dirt track.
The racing starts at 6:00 p.m. so you might want to get there a little earlier to park your car in the field and walk to the track. I'm told that the entry fee is about $10 per person and sometimes there is a special family price. The speedway is on Route 25 in West Rumney just a ways past the convenience store opposite the intersection with Route 118.
Starr King View
Minister: Rev. Sarah Stewart
sstewart@starrkingfellowship.org
Office Administrator:
admin@starrkingfellowship.org
Office: (603) 536-8908
Website—www.starrkingfellowship.org