IMAGINE

September - October   2011

Meetings at 198 Main Street – 2nd and 4th Sundays

198 Main St. – Hornell, NY

3:00 to 5:00PM

September – 11 The Rev. George Smith will lead our traditional In Gathering and Water Ceremony. Bring a sample of water to represent a part of your summer that you want to share. Photos and other mementos are welcome, too. This is a time when we again circle the UU wagons in our beloved community. George will continue to guide our discussion of UU Principles with the fifth principle: The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and in society at large.

We plan to go out and dine with Jim and Pauletta Copenheaver after the service, location to be selected.

September – 25 Bert Brown will give a presentation and discussion of a program titled “Origins, Beliefs, and Comparisons of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam”.

October – 9  Part II of the discussion of the fifth Principal. Led by the Rev. George Smith

October – 25 The role of Love in Religion will be explored by

Walt Brown. Love has assured the survival of groups such as ours throughout history.

Notes from Penny….

*As the recession goes on let’s remember the gift of food items.

** Some of you have already come forward with a program you would like to do and a date you are able to do it. It’d be great to hear from others who would like to share a topic with the group.

“An unexamined faith is not worth having”. James LutheAdams

By Connie Goodbread, St. Lawrence District President:

We are the people of many myths. There is no fundamentalism in Unitarian Universalism. Therefore, UU’s should be comfortable with all religious truth. We should also be able to articulate our own faith clearly. We should be able to speak deeply and unafraid about what it means to be a UU.

HAUUS Newsletter Sept-Oct 2011

July 10-3:00-5:00     Songfest

Penny Whitford’s at 5101 State Route 36 (about 1.8 miles south of the village of Canisteo). Bring a lawn chair and come prepared to make music. By all means.Bring a friend!! Call 698-4508 or e-mail pwhitford@stny.rr.com for more info

July 24-3:00-5:00   Shared Poetry  & Other Readings & Picnic

Sharon Saker’s at 10205 St Route 585, Prattsburgh. Try out a new dish on your UU frieds, or bring a tried , true favorite. Providing your own table service and a chair will be appreciated. Bring a reading that holds special meaning for you to share. Beverages and grill provided. For more info call 585-522-3805 oe e-mail Sharon4@empacc.net.

August 14-3:00-5:00     Drumming

Connect to the Rhythm of Nature and yourspirit with sacred drumming at MoonHeart Studios, Nurturing Arts & 64 acre Nature Sanctuary. The program will be led by Joanie (Culver) Desimone/jewelry artisan and Eli Thomas, Wisdom Keeper of Onondaga traditions painter. Bring your own drums and rattles, or use Joanie’s. 8340 Wessels Hill Rd., Avoa New York. Call 698-4508 for directions, or email Penny at pwhitford@stny.rr.com.

August 28-3:00-5:00         Picnic

Stony Brook State Park-more info to follow closer to date.

The Copenheaver’s will be joining us for our annual Ingathering Water Ceremony Sept 11 and look forward to going out for dinner and fellowship afterwards.

HornellAlfred Unitarian Universalist Society HAUUS 

The 2011 meetings in Hornell are 2nd and 4th Saturdays that draw on words and experiences of prophetic women and men, which challenge us to confront powers and structures of evil and justice and transforming power of love.

The HAUUS annual meeting was held Saturday April 23, as scheduled.

  Penny Whitford was elected president for the coming year. All other offices and or positions were refilled with the same people as this year, by election or appointment. This included the Rev. George Smith as our minister.

   After everyone had opportunity to comment, it was decided to move the meeting to Sunday afternoons 3-5 pm. We will continue with Saturday afternoons until the end of June to prevent possible confusion.

   It was also decided to move the meetings which were being held at Marino’s back to 198 Main Street, effective immediately. All regular meetings will be held at 198 Main Street.

   Finally, it was decided to meet in the summer and not meet in January and February. The purpose is to avoid the need to travel in winter weather and the need to go home after dark in th winter months. 

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Saturday, May 14, 3-5 pm, 198 Main Street, Hornell, NY
Rev. George Smith, HAUUS Minister

Affirming and promoting the free and responsible search for truth and meaning Part 1

Saturday, May 28, 3-5 pm, 198 Main Street, Hornell, NY
Homer Wilkins, Guest Presenter

Theme: Imagine all the people

Hornell Alfred Unitarian Universalist Society

The 2011 open meetings in Hornell are 2nd & 4th Saturdays thatdraw on words and experience of prophetic women and men, which challenge us to confront powers and structures of evil with justice, compassion and transforming power of love.

March 12th, Saturday, 3-5 PM, Marino’s Restaurant, 110 Loder Street {Across from Erie Station} Hornell, NY

Affirming and Promoting acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations in human relations – Part 1

Membership Presentation

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March 26, Saturday, 3-5 PM, 198 East Main Street, Hornell, NY

Corporate rights versus human rights in America

Virginia Rasmussen, Presentor

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April 9th, Saturday, 3-5 PM, Marino’s Restaurant, 110 Loder Street {Across from Erie Station} Hornell, NY

Affirming and Promoting acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations in human relations – Part 2

Membership Presentation

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April 26, Saturday, 3-5 PM, 198 East Main Street, Hornell, NY

Annual Scoiety Meeting & Potluck Dinner

Our local, welcoming Unitarian Universalist Society serves to promote liberal religious values in the Allegeny, Steuben and Livingston Tricounty Region.

The 2011 Open Meetings in Hornell are the 2^nd & 4^th Saturdays that draw on words and experience of prophetic women and men, which challenge us to confront powers and structures of evil with justice, compassion and the transforming power of love.

February 12, Saturday, 3-5 PM, Marino’s Restaurant, 110 Loder St. (across from Erie Station) Hornell

Affirming and promoting justice, equity and compassion in human relations

Rev. George Smith, Unitarian Universalist and United Church of Christ Minister

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February 26, Saturday, 3-5 PM, 198 East Main Street, Hornell, NY

I’LL Stand and Fight: The power of grassroots activism

Meeka Mason, First Universalist Church, Rochester, NY.   Formerly of University of Illinois, Springfield, and currently a social worker in training in Rochester schools,  Ms. Mason tells her struggle for rights, respect and justice in a world rife with stereotyping.

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March 12, Saturday, 3-5 PM, Marino’s Restaurant, 110 Loder St. (across from Erie Station) Hornell, NY Affirming and promoting acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations in human relations

Rev. George Smith, Unitarian Universalist and United Church of Christ Minister

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March 26, Saturday, 3-5 PM, 198 East Main St, Hornell, NY

Corporate versus human rights in America: The Citizens United Case by Virginia Rasmussen, Guest

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April 9, Saturday, 3-5 PM, Marino’s Restaurant, 110 Loder St. (across from Erie Station) Hornell, NY

Affirming and promoting acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations in human relations

Rev. George Smith, Unitarian Universalist and United Church of Christ Minister

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April 23, Saturday, 3-5 PM, 198 E. Main St., Annual Society meeting & potluck dinner

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May 14, Saturday, 3-5 PM, Marino’s Restaurant, 110 Loder St. (across from Erie Station) Hornell, NY Rev. George Smith, Unitarian Universalist and United Church of Christ Minister

Affirming and promoting the free and responsible search for truth and meaning.

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May 28, Saturday, 3-5 PM, 198 East Main St, Hornell, NY

Wandering ministerial thoughts on being a Unitarian Universalist

Homer Wilkins, Guest presenter[1]

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June 11, Saturday, 3-5 PM, Marino’s Restaurant, 110 Loder St. (across from Erie Station) Hornell, NY Rev. George Smith, Unitarian Universalist and United Church of Christ Minister

Principle, Affirming and promoting the free and responsible search for truth and meaning.

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June 25, Saturday, 3-5 PM, Marino’s Restaurant, 110 Loder St. (across from Erie Station) Hornell, NY Rev. George Smith, Unitarian Universalist and United Church of Christ Minister

Summer Solstace and flower communion

SECOND SATURDAY AT MARINO’S RESTAURANT, 110 Loder Street – 3 – 5 pm
THIRD SATURDAY AT 198 MAIN ST. – 3 – 5 PM

November 13th,  3-5 PM , Marino’s Restaurant, 110 Loder Street
Continuing with the UU PRINCIPLES – The Rev. George Smith will continue into the second princple:
We covenant to affirm and promote justice, equity and compassion in human relations.”

November 20th, 3-5 PM, 198 Main Street
Doctor Homer Wilkins gives us the first look at his new program
“Uses and Misuses of Artificial Identity: Masks, Badges, Uniforms and Titles,” Much of our interactions with others is on the basis of assumed identities; seldom do we engage in authentic interactions. When and if we do, we are exposing our true selves, and that is risky. In some sitiations it is helpful and {perhaps} necessary to adopt some form of artificial identity, but in most of our interactions, this is not only unnecessary, but even detrimental to real communication. The issues will be illustrated by reference to a few literary works, as well as some ordinary real life stories. Truly authentic interactions should be our aim if we are to be fully human.

October 9th, 3-5 PM, Marino’s Restaurant, 110 Loder
“The Inherent worth and dignity of every person” continued
It was the beginning of our grand venture together on Saturday September 11th. It was one in which we are seeking to find like minded people to come and join with us and one in which I am thrilled to work with you in our discussion of these Principles as we learn to make these a part of  our living. Both are important, to each of us. We have struggled over the past few years to figure out where we are going. We have discovered this is not easy. Now we at least have a goal, we want to grow. But more importantly, it has been a journey to realize that who and what we are is not a thing to be kept to ourselves, but something we can share with others, to aide them in their own growth. We need to realize we are a special beacon light in a dismal world that gets so easily lost in the banalities of living. So we offer that very important place where others can find a home for their minds and their spiritual beings. By doing so, we meet our goal. Hopefully these discussions will not only enlighten us but help others in their quests in this life.
George

October 23rd, 3-5 PM , 198 Main Street
“Visioning Sustainable Living” by Alison Clarke
Aiison is a member of the UU church of Canandaigua. In the mid seventies when she helped found the Rochester Peace and Justice Education Center {PJEC}. The center, a Clergy and Laity Concerned chapter, focused on the root causes of war in human rights, anti hunger, disarmament and safe energy. As a Co-coordinator for the first eight years of PJEC, she staffed the anti-hunger and human rights focii which were called the Politics of Food  and eventually the Rochester Committee on Latin America. In  1983 the Politics of Food became it’s own 501C3 not for profit and focused on community gardens and later school-community gardens connected to school state standard curriculum. It also worked with others on a local, state and national level on food policy which led to the formation of the NY Sustainable Agriculture Working Group {NYSAWG} which she also coordinated for the first 9 years of it’s existence till it spun off as a separate not for profit. She will include the amazing history of the SAWGS in her presentation. In about 1987 the Politics of Food partnered with Rose Valley Farm to form the first Community Supported Agriculture in Western NY which became Genesee Valley Organic Community {GVOCSA}. Around 2002 Alison formed the Center for Sustainable Living {CSL} which now has put out about 6 years of workshop booklets. That organization and the NY Small Scale Food Processrs’ Assn., a statewide trade association, occupy most of Alison’s time.

The NY State Convention of Universaliists are meeting at the May Memorial Church in Syracuse, October 22-23, 2010.The topic is Local Action Global Connection-21st Century Universalism.

Please remember to bring food for an area food bank. With Alstom cut way back, more peolpe are struggling.

If you didn’t attend the meeting at Marino’s, you can get a reasonable amount of good food at the same price as other local restaurants.

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John Murray is known as the father of Universalism. Murray was not the first Universalist m9nister in this country, but he was the minister in a Philadelphia area church which wass the first to call itself Universalist. He brought the religion he preached from England in 1770, where it was known as Rellyism.

James Relly was the first to preach what we now call Universalism. Relly developed his idea of a loving God and no punishment after death some time previous to 1741.

Dr. George de Benneville was the first , in America, to preach what was to become Universalism. He farmed and preached and treated the Lenape indians outside of what is now Bethlehem Pa..

In 1793 a group calling themselves Universalists, from the states of Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Vermont, Connecticut and New York held a general convention and the name stuck.

September 2010

Please note HAUUS has changed its meeting day, time, and one of the meeting places.

HAUUS meetings will take place from 3:00-5:00 PM on the second and fourth Saturday of the month.

The first meeting of each month will be held at Marino’s Restaurant 110 Loder St, in Hornell. The group’s last meeting of the month will be held at 198 Main Street in Hornell.

September 11- Marino’s 110 Loder St.                  “ New Beginnings”– We will begin a new era in the history of HAUUS. It promises to be an exciting new adventure, a discussion group led by Rev. George Smith, where what you say will be valued by others. For this first meeting we will begin with an ingathering ritual, “The Gathering of the Waters.” Please bring with you some water which represents where you spent time this summer. When you pour your water into the communal dish you may, if you wish, share your summer highlights with the whole group. The ritual will lead to our first discussion, the First Unitarian Universalist Principal—“We value the worth and dignity of every human being.”

September 25-198 Main   “ In Pursuit of Theology”—Unitarians Universalists profess belief in no creeds or dogma. Does this mean we are free to believe anything at all? Walter Brown, a founding member of HAUUS, will explore the reason most UU’s attend church. His presentation will follow the steps most of us have followed in reaching our present theology. There will be opportunity for all who wish to share their unique experiences as our theology has evolved.

News and Notes

We welcome the Rev. George Smith and his wife, Joanne! George will be HAUUS’s “service minister” this year and will be providing a discussion format program the second Saturday of each month at Marino’s. All are invited to enjoy Marino’s fine cuisine after our discussion.

HAUUS thoroughly enjoyed a reunion with Jim and Pauletta Copenheaver August 3 at Marino’s. Pauletta shared the website of a UUA generated series of programs being presented in Blacksburg: “SPIRIT IN PRACTICE-A Tapestry of Faith Program for Adults”. Check it out at http://www.uua.org/religiouseducation/curricula/tapestryfaith/thenew/indes.shtml

Canned and boxes food goods are wanted. With the drastic layoffs at Alstom, More of our community’s families are finding it difficult to put food on their tables. Area food banks are pushed to the limit.

The NYS Convention of Universalists will be held at May Memorial in Syracuse Oct 22-23. Local Action-Global Connection 21^st Century is the theme. See Penny for a registration form.

Visit our Blog at HAUUS.org.

Septnewsletter.pdf

uunewsletter May-June 2010

HAUUS meets on the second and fourth Sunday’s 0f the month at 10:30 AM.  We are located at 198 Main St. in Hornell NY unless otherwise noted below.   All are Welcome. For more information about HAUUS please call (607)698-4508 or (607)522-7803

Please note the June programs will not be at our 198 Main St. location.  (See below under each date for location and directions).

May 9 – The Jesus Puzzle – Bert Brown will read this essay provided by Jim Copenheaver.   A discussion will follow.

May 23 – There is an old story that nearly everyone “knows”, but what is widely known is a highly distorted version. The real story embodies true UU-ism and is at least as relevant today as it was when originally told about 2500 years ago. Come and be surprised at what it is and see if you agree that its message is sorely needed in today’s world.”  Our friend Homer Wilkens will be in the area and visit us again to share this program

June 13 – Connect with your heartbeat, and natural rhythms… drumming is down to earth…. a connection to the earth mother…. a sacred and spiritual journey…  this will be an introduction to a variety of drum types…  and an opportunity to  learn some simple rhythms for drumming as a group…

This program will be at the home of Joan Desimone out Smith Pond way in Avoca. The address is 8340 Wessels Hill Rd Avoca NY 14809 To get to Joan’s follow the directions below.  Go past Polly’s about a mile.  Smith Pond Rd. turns in to Wessels Rd.

June 27 – A Summer Solstice celebration will be led by George Smith and at Polly Nelson’s cottage at Smith Pond in Howard. The address is 8020 Smith Pond Rd. Avoca NY 14809    This program will begin at 12:30PM

Get off I 86 in Howard

News and Notes

Canned and boxed food goods wanted:

Please remember to bring non perishable food items when you come to our UU meetings.  When our box is full it will be donated to a local food pantry.

Visit our Blog at HAUUS.org

HAUUS will not be meeting in July and August.  Details regarding our new format will come to your mailbox in August for the September meetings.

HAUUS Newsletter March-April 2010 (MS Word)

HAUUS meets on the second and fourth Sunday’s 0f the month at 10:30 AM.  We are located at 198 Main St. in Hornell NY unless otherwise noted below.   All are Welcome. For more information about HAUUS please call (607)698-4508 or (607)522-7803

March 14 – Part II of The Waneisha Way…a mystical path to higher consciousness. This spiritual expression is a synthesis of Eastern spiritual practices and earth based spiritual teachings from north Central and South America, Hawaii, Tibet and Egypt.  Shea will continue our exploration and discussion which began in January.

March 28 – From the UU program The Renewal, this DVD segment and following discussion is about the human connectedness with the Universe.  Discussion will include a look at the spiritual, ethical and moral issues surrounding our water, land and food. After viewing the video segment, Suzanne Miller will lead our discussion.

George Smith will be meeting with us after this program during our social hour to discuss ways in which he might be able to provide services for HAUUS as a UU minister.  Please try to attend

April 11 – HAUUS Annual Meeting. Our annual meeting will include the election of officers, review of the past year and future planning. Your input is extremely important as the future of HAUUS is uncertain. A dish to pass luncheon will follow the meeting. Along with your dish to pass, please bring your own table service and beverage. Small microwave is available.  There are no electrical outlets for crock pots.

April 25 – Does Being Under Surveillance Make Us Morally better? Emrys Westacott PhD of Philosophy and professor at Alfred University will present this program

News and Notes

Canned and boxed food goods wanted:

Please remember to bring non perishable food items when you come to our UU meetings.  When our box is full it will be donated to a local food pantry.

Visit our Blog at HAUUS.org

United Nations Millennium Development Goals (by 2015)

End Poverty and Hunger, Universal Education, Gender Equality, Child Health, Maternal Health, Combat HIV/AIDS, Environmental Sustainability, Global Partnership

What can HAUUS do to help meet these goals?  Please visit;

www.un.org/millenniumgoals

www.inmillenniumproject.org

www.standaganistpoverty.org

www.point7now.org