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Services Sundays @ 10:30 Community Unitarian Universalist Church 403 West Street New Smyrna Beach, FL 32168
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Looking Ahead to June 2019
June 2nd
Bryan Fulwider
June 9th Laura Chilkott
"Oh, the Colors: A Celebration of Flower Communion"
Spring Equinox
June 16th Joe Wolfarth "Us vs. Them" Privilege and Prejudice
June 23rd Michelle Sullivan "Q & A about Buddhism with Michelle"
June 30th
Chris Kaplan
"Celebrating Stonewall Day"
Upcoming Events May 1st
Dream Circle
contact David Herr for info
May 8th CUUC Board Meeting
5:30-7:30 p.m. Location: Church Sanctuary
403 West Street NSB
May 19th
Annual Congregational Meeting
Mortgage Payoff Celebration Time: Following the Service
Location: Church Sanctuary
403 West Street NSB
May 20th Worship Committee Meeting
6:00 Location: Church Sanctuary
403 West Street NSB
***For the most up to date information on events, please check the calendar on our webpage- www.nsbcuuc.org or www.dbcuuc.org
Upcoming Birthdays
May
May 5th Terry Bishop
May 6th Suzanne Ronneau
June June 7th Debbi Zill June 22nd Julia Zakrewsky
CO-PRESIDENTS' ARTICLES Hello, friends. Spring is here, and with it, rising layers of optimism in CUUC. We've planned a celebration, a “mortgage burning party” to celebrate that wonderful achievement. It'll be immediately after the Annual Meeting, May 19. How blessed are we to have paid off our mortgage in just 19 months!
Speaking of the Annual Meeting, we'll be voting on some vacancies on the Board. If you are approached to fill a position, please consider stepping up. There is plenty of support for volunteers! Let's ensure that CUUC continues to move forward and building on the stunning accomplishments of these last 19 months!
Another amazing achievement is that we raised enough to move forward on an Accessible Bathroom. This was done in about six months, and really in about the last three. We had successful bake sales and yard sales (over $600 raised in the latter!), and Audrey Barcelo graciously asked us to use the generous memorials in Charley's name for this fund. Also, the money raised in the silent auction went into this fund.
We now have a full and expanded butterfly garden in front of and to the side of the front stoop!
All of this was accomplished thanks to our loving and generous volunteers, and it has been so gratifying to see this commitment.
The Cinco de Mayo celebration is May 4th at Kathi’s house, with friend Fernando Arzoqueta speaking about its history and current trends. Sign up in church. Space is limited!
Two new groups in NSB, fueled by women, are forming and we need volunteers to represent us. One is Moms' Group for Sensible Gun Legislation, and the other is the Progressive Women's Group. The latter is composed of women of faith. See Kathi if you're interested in representing us in the former, Charlotte for the latter.
Happy Spring!
Connie Baker, Co-President
R.I.P. Joan Estrada
It is with profound sadness that I write to inform longtime and newer members of CUUC that our Joan Estrada has transitioned onto the next plane. Joan suffered from pulmonary and heart problems and left her loving family and friends on her 90th birthday, April 2. While a member of CUUC, Joan formed our first and only choir and led it, and said recently that it was one of the most enjoyable things she ever did. She served on the Membership Committee where she wrote welcome notes to visitors, was a greeter, and took home 50-60 coffee mugs each week for the dishwasher. She and my mother, Ruth Stopp, donated a lovely music stand which she used to direct the choir, and she personally got our Welcoming Committee certificate framed. A lovely, intelligent woman with a sense of humor toward life, Joan will be sorely missed. I know my life will be forever changed.
Connie Baker
Everyday Miracles
It is challenging to Write of my Own Personal Grief and Loss, but I Must for my Heart to Heal.
This spring has brought unexpected and unheralded change. On Riverside Drive in Holly Hill, where I live, Hurricanes Mathew and Irma (in 2016 & 2017, respectively) collectively tore apart many waterfront docks. My brother Ned now owns the house I grew up in, which fortunately had no dock for the storms to destroy. We live next door to the house our great-grandparents built just after 1900, which has a dock that miraculously survived destruction (it was built High and Well by the man whose renovation gave new life to that grand old home). Across the street from us is the South Annex of Sunrise Point Park (at LPGA Blvd. & Riverside Drive), which used to boast a Fishing Dock and a floating Kayak Launch, both of which were Destroyed by the hurricanes. Recently a team of workmen was dispatched to remove the remnants of the Fishing Dock (which had been little-used in recent years since another was built at the deep-water zone at the Eastern End of Sunrise Point, a wee bit further North; more fish can be caught in those Deeper Waters.)
My brother and I didn't expect the entire South Park Annex to become a construction site. When the area across the street from us was cordoned off, Ned visited Holly Hill's City Hall to find out why, and returned with a plan for new construction including doubling the size of the existing Boat Launch and adding a new Kayak Launch directly beside it. These changes appear Good to us, as they Improve the park. What alarmed me was seeing that the plan involved destroying 8 beautiful Trees across the street from my windows and installing several new parking spaces in their place. Many years ago (35?) Our Late Mother was approached by city officials and informed of their plans to put a City Park across from our house. She said, "I Won't Contest your Usurpation of my Riparian Rights, Conditionally; Promise Me This: You Won't Cut Any Trees Down, and You Won't Put a Parking Lot Across from My Home." The City of Holly Hill kept that promise all these years - UNTIL NOW. Ned said: "She didn't get them to put it in writing." So now we expect car headlights to be shining directly into our windows as vehicles park where trees had long stood (the plan calls for parking spaces along the curve of a Widened In Road).
The greatest irony is that thousands of times I have looked across the street to see the following sight: a Completely Empty Parking Lot, punctuated by as many vehicles as would fit crammed into the dirt and grass UNDER THE TREES directly Across from our windows! It's HOT here in Florida, and a Shady place to Park is Desirable!
I was stunned when I learned about the City's plans.
The night before the destruction, a Monday, was punctuated by a hard and heavy rainstorm. Looking out the window at the trees marked for death, I felt great despair. Not only had the city broken its Promise to my mother, but Life was to be sacrificed for Concrete. As thunder clapped and darkness fell on the growing storm, I remembered an old maxim: "It's Not Nice to Fool Mother Nature!"
Soon a song entered my head which would not leave. I've known this song for about 25 years. Entitled, "Bells for Her," it's by Tori Amos, from her album, "Under the Pink." The song describes a childhood friend imperiled by a relationship with an abusive man, one who'll end up killing her before he finishes taking out his anger upon her. The chorus punctuates with a single haunting line: "Can't stop what's coming; can't stop what is on its way..."
I heard this line repeating in my head and I thought, 'Those Trees are All but Killed ALREADY.' I realized it was too late to organize a protest or a petition that could Save Them; their deaths were as much assured as Ann Boleyn's, or Marie Antoinette's - like those doomed figures, they, too, now waited only for the Executioner.
The next day (a Tuesday) I phoned the Holly Hill City Hall to voice my concerns. Two Wrongs DON'T make a Right, and that is the ONLY way I can consider a plan to chop Living Trees Down in order to add More SunBaked Parking Spaces. A clerk named Valerie put my call through to an official named Antonio, who promised that someone would call me back. However, when I arrived home from work that evening, The Trees Had Already Been Killed.
Although my heart hurts, I know that in these times, Trees Don't Have Civil Rights, Animals Don't Have Civil Rights, Many Human Beings (in This Country and Others) Don't Have Civil Rights... the Society to Prevent Cruelty to Animals existed in our nation PRIOR TO the Creation of Laws to Protect Minor Children.
I cannot bring those Trees Back To Life. I cannot stop the "yellow dragons" (heavy construction machinery) tearing the earth apart across the road from my Home. But I CAN Share This Story.
As a Native Floridian, I know we Can And Must Act to keep this state from becoming the living incarnation of another song, one by Joni Mitchell: "Don't it always seem to go, they don't know what they've Got till it's Gone? They Paved Paradise to put up a Parking Lot."
Namaste.
Joe Wolfarth
Worship Committee Co-Chair
We Thank Our Garage Sale Volunteers
Here are a few pictures of some of the volunteers who worked over three days to make the sale a success.
Not pictured: Dana, David. Apologies to anyone whose picture we missed. We couldn't have done it without your help as well as thank you for all the donations from our members and friends.
Herman Melville was born in New York City on August 1, 1819, into a Scottish Dutch ancestors.A series of misfortunes, beginning with his father’s early death, preceded his shipping out from Fairhaven, Massachusetts, on the whaler Acushnet. He jumped ship in Polynesia, whose island story Typee he wrote in 1848. This early work remained in print throughout his lifetime.
He was married to Elizabeth Knapp Shaw, and had four children together.
Despite financial difficulties, he continued to write-with high encouragement by his friend Nathaniel Hawthorne. Melville’s masterpiece Moby Dick (1851), a tale of his whaling expedition, initially received small praise and small sales. Melville endured years of rheumatic pain and depression and wrote short stories for magazines until his appointment as an inspector of customs in New York City, where he joined the All Souls Unitarian Church. Melville died at his home in New York City early on the morning of September 28, 1891, at age 72.
Information was taken from the following three websites to provide this brief image of Herman Melville. I found it very interesting to read. Here are the links.
Spotlight On Members
Kathi Smith, Ginny Fregin and Pat Cullison welcomed Terry Bishop back as a returning member.
We want to reacquaint you with some interesting life facts of Terry.
Terry hailed from Pennsylvania originally. He served in the Army in the Vietnam War for 6 years as a helicopter pilot. He then taught military people how to fly helicopters for two years.
Following his military service, Terry attended and graduated from Stetson University in Deland with a degree in education. He never taught; he opened an antique business instead. He owned an antique shop in Deland for 25 years.
Terry has traveled extensively. He shared that he loves cruising as it is a very leisurely way to travel. His favorite trip was to Machu Picchu in Peru. Ask him about it some time.
Terry's music of choice includes songs by Fleetwood Mac and The Eagles, although he appreciates all music. Welcome Terry back when you see him.
Lu Giammatteo
I had the pleasure of talking with Lu while we volunteered for the Garage Sale. She is an interesting woman. Some interesting tidbits that I learned include that Lu worked on Groton Submarine Base in Connecticut. Her company was a food manufacturer and she was a trainer who worked with the chefs on the subs.
Lu taught English in Spain to adults after her retirement as a dietitian. Her most memorable moments from the job involved the people in her class, who were learning English. She loved the growth they made in their grasp of the English language.
Lu was also an assistant SCUBA instructor, who along with her ex husband, led dives all over the world. She owned a motorcycle and did many cross country trips. She used to sky dive as well.
Some highlights of her life include: She took a spiritual journey to Egypt, traveling up the Nile, which was amazing. She worked with a health professional, volunteering her time in Haiti. She has two children- her son is a filmmaker and her daughter is a design consultant with her own cleaning business and antique business.
The last good book she read was The Border by Don Winslow. Donw Winslow has been her filmaker son's mentor for the past 30 years. The book is soon to be turned into a tv series with Ridley Scott as executive producer.
The last great movie that Lu saw was "Bohemian Rhapsody". Her favorite place is Italy; she has traveled there 8 times and has family there.
I hope this gives just an exciting glimpse into Lu's life and you'll take the time to strike up a conversation with her about one of these interesting tidbits.
-Dana
Barcelo Butterfly Garden
Volunteers worked on Sunday, April 21st to add plants to the Barcelo Butterfly Garden to help us earn designation as NSBGC Certified Monarch Butterfly Sanctuary Garden. After the service on Sunday, volunteers planted butterfly friendly plants. Once again, many people were involved in this project; special thanks are sent out to all our volunteers and donees of plants. My apologies that I could not get photos of them all. Here are some pictures.
Chris Kaplan Michelle Moen Steve Baker
Volunteer Needed
Letter Writing Campaign for Social Justice-
We need someone to spearhead this campaign as there is a deadline.
April 21–May 2 FESTIVAL OF RIDVÁN • Bahá’í Annual festival commemorating the 12 days when Bahá’u’lláh, the prophet-founder of the Bahá’í Faith, resided in a garden called Ridván (Paradise) and publicly proclaimed his mission as God’s messenger for this age. The first (April 21), ninth (April 29), and twelfth (May 2) days are celebrated as holy days when Baha’is suspend work.
May 2 YOM HASHOAH • Jewish “Holocaust Remembrance Day” memorializes the heroic martyrdom of six million Jews who perished in the Nazi Holocaust.
May 3 WORLD PRESS FREEDOM DAY Serves as an occasion to inform the public of violations of the right to freedom of expression and as a reminder that many journalists brave death or jail to bring people their daily news.
May 5 CINCO DE MAYO In 1862 Mexican forces defeated French occupational forces in the Battle of Puebla.
May 6–June 4 RAMADAN • Islamic Observed by Muslims worldwide as a month of fasting to commemorate the first revelation of the Qur'an to the Prophet Muhammad.
May 12 MOTHER’S DAY Children of all ages show appreciation for their mothers and mother figures.
May 18 VISAKHA PUJA • Buddhist Also known as Vesak or Buddha Day, it marks the birth, spiritual awakening and death (nirvana) of the historical Buddha.
May 21 WORLD DAY FOR CULTURAL DIVERSITY Recognizes cultural diversity as a source of innovation, exchange and creativity, as well as the obligation to create a more peaceful and equitable society based on mutual respect.
May 23 LAG B’OMER • Jewish Celebrates the end of a divine-sent plague and/or Roman occupation during Rabbi Akiva’s lifetime (died c. 135 CE).
May 24 DECLARATION OF THE BAB • Bahá’í Commemoration of May 23, 1844, when the Báb, the prophet-herald of the Bahá’í Faith, announced in Shíráz, Persia, that he was the herald of a new messenger of God.
May 27 MEMORIAL DAY A federal holiday in the United States for remembering the people who died while serving in the country's armed forces.
May 29 ASCENSION OF BAHÁ’U’LLÁH • Bahá’í Observance of the anniversary of the death in exile of Bahá’u’lláh, the prophet-founder of the Bahá’í Faith.
May 30 ASCENSION DAY • Christian Celebrated 40 days after Easter/Pascha, it commemorates the ascension of Jesus into Heaven.
Our next Book Club Meeting is June 6th at 6 p.m.
I have already read the book and love, love, love it. Dana
Publisher's Intro:
For years, rumors of the “Marsh Girl” have haunted Barkley Cove, a quiet town on the North Carolina coast. So in late 1969, when handsome Chase Andrews is found dead, the locals immediately suspect Kya Clark, the so-called Marsh Girl. But Kya is not what they say. Sensitive and intelligent, she has survived for years alone in the marsh that she calls home, finding friends in the gulls and lessons in the sand. Then the time comes when she yearns to be touched and loved. When two young men from town become intrigued by her wild beauty, Kya opens herself to a new life–until the unthinkable happens.
Perfect for fans of Barbara Kingsolver and Karen Russell, Where the Crawdads Sing is at once an exquisite ode to the natural world, a heartbreaking coming-of-age story, and a surprising tale of possible murder. Owens reminds us that we are forever shaped by the children we once were, and that we are all subject to the beautiful and violent secrets that nature keeps.
General Assembly 2019 – The Power of We
June 19-23, Spokane, WA
In a time of great challenge and heartbreak in our world, what does our faith demand from us? At this year’s General Assemblywe will explore the power, possibility, purpose, struggle and joy of finding the path forward together as Unitarian Universalists. Attendees will leave inspired, with the tools needed to carry on the work into their own congregations and communities. Join us as we work for collective liberation inside and outside our faith.
Dana Jacobsen is our Newsletter Editor. Please send articles to her at sguard@bellsouth.net with the subject lin "for Cuuc newsletter".
We are now on Ebay
We have sold over $1,400.00 in donated items. Share our items for sale with friends. New items added daily. http://tinyurl.com/gpk96nw
We are still accepting donations.
Bring them to church or drop off at Sharon's home.
Items should not be too large. See Sharon for details. _______________________________________________
CUUC's phone number is:
(386) 308-8080
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Community Unitarian Universalist Church
403 West Street
New Smyrna Beach, 32168 (386) 308-8080
