January 16, 2022
Transcendentalism and Social Justice
Rev. Dr. John Buehrens
Former UUA President
Worship Associate Mary Temple
The Rev. John Buehrens was president of the Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations from 1993 to 2001. He served congregations in Tennessee, Texas, New York, Massachusetts, and California before retiring in 2017. He is the co-author with Forrest Church of A Chosen Faith: An Introduction to Unitarian Universalism. His other books include Understanding the Bible: An Introduction for Skeptics, Seekers, and Religious Liberals (2004); A House for Hope: The Promise of Progressive Religion for the Twenty-first Century, with Rebecca Ann Parker (2011); Universalists and Unitarians in America: A People’s History (2011); andConflagration: How the Transcendentalists Sparked the American Struggle for Racial, Gender, and Social Justice(2020).
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Until Further notice all services will be on Zoom
January 23, 2022
A Sense of Mission
Rev. Sue Redfern-Campbell
Worship Associate Janet Joseph
Church consultants tell us that a driving sense of mission (which may or may not include a mission statement) is vital to a congregation’s success. But it’s easy to fall into habits of institutional maintenance, doing what we have always done. How do we nurture what one person has called “the glowing coal at our congregation’s center”?
2022-2023
Stewardship Drive
As most of you are aware, the annual CUUB Stewardship drive was launched this last Sunday with a wonderful sermon from Rev. Sue and a member reflection from our CUUB president, Nate Warner. Renew, Remodel, and Rebuild is our theme this year.
We are hoping to renew our pledges from last year as we will have a similar budget. We are in need of remodeling and rebuilding our programs, getting back in the building, and hiring a new contract minister. We will also be rebuilding our child and adult spiritual education (SE) programs.
We are planning on some Zoom breakout room style “Cottage Meetings'' after this Sunday's service (the 16th) and next Sunday (the 23rd). We are planning to have someone from Finance and the CUUB board in each one of the breakout rooms to explain and answer any questions about this year’s campaign.
A mailing was sent out this week to each of you that includes a welcome letter along with a timeline and this year’s pledge form. There is also a stamped envelope for you to mail your pledge back to CUUB. Please consider joining us after the Sunday worship service for a nice meeting to go over the materials and answer any questions.
Your Finance Team
Questions? Click here to go to our Stewardship page to ask.
PS If you are receiving CUUB News and you did not receive a letter this week (and want to participate in CUUB's success) please write to stewardship@cuub.org and let us know. We would love to have your participation.
Minister's Corner
Generosity is good for us! Research indicates that being generous enhances our physical, emotional, and spiritual health. It lowers our blood pressure. It reduces our risk of dementia, or cardiovascular crises. It promotes “better living through brain chemistry,” opening up the brain’s reward center, releasing beneficial hormones.
A variety of studies support the connection. One involving Alcoholics Anonymous indicated that AA members who helped other alcoholics were twice as likely to maintain their own sobriety. A United Way study showed that people who volunteer sleep better than those who don’t. They also have better friendships and social networks, and fewer feelings of anxiety, helplessness, or hopelessness.
On the side of financial generosity, similar results show up. A National Institute of Health study showed that giving money, like volunteering, releases endorphins that boost the immune system and reduce pain. Another one indicated that withholding generosity and feeling bad about it leads to a rise in the stress hormone cortisol.
In study at Duke University, each participant was given a Starbucks gift card. Half were told it was for their own use, while the other half were asked to take the card and give it to someone else. That night, the researchers called all the participants and asked questions about how happy they were feeling. Those given the card for themselves reported no uptick in happiness. But those who gave the card away said that yes, they were feeling happier than they had in the morning, before they were given the card. If that result holds up in other experiments, the adage “It’s more blessed to give than to receive” will have empirical support!
Not that we should be only givers, and never receivers. If someone offers us a gift, or some assistance, or even a compliment, we’re not doing them any favors by turning them away. There are times, of course, when help offered is intrusive, or not what we need. But it’s also possible to refuse help for the wrong reasons - thereby denying someone the joy of generosity.
One UU hymn goes like this: “From you I receive; to you I give. Together we share, and by this we live.” It’s my sense that these words apply very well to CUUB. Over the years, you’ve been generous with your time, talent, and treasure. You’ve extended yourself for families and individuals, for the congregation’s well-being, and for the sake of love and justice. In doing so, you’ve learned one of life’s greatest lessons: When we receive, we give – and when we give, we receive.
Love and blessings,
Rev. Sue
Board Report
Minister Search Update
At the board meeting in December a subgroup was formed to update the Congregational Record (CR) on the UUA Ministerial Search Site and publish it so that ministers are aware that CUUB is looking for a Contract to Call Minister. Alice Andrews, Jeanette Darbe and Karen Sanderson are reviewing and revising the CR and will publish it by the end of January. This puts us in a position to begin the interview process as ministers express interest.
Newest Board Member
Michelle Byrd has accepted the position of At Large Board Member. We are pleased to have Michelle join us!
Social Justice News
Social Justice Facebook Page
Please “Look for the link to the reactivated CUUB Social Justice FB page on CUUBs FB page “.
SWN Livingston Counties Homeless Shelter needs your help
We want you to know how grateful we are for the volunteers and donations we’ve been getting to support the effort to support our local homeless population. Note that Lee Anzicek and Dianne Morgan are organizing volunteers for a week starting March 27 and of course we also could use more money donations.
To sign up to volunteer besides the week of March 27th CLICK HERE
Adult Spiritual Education
Rev. Sue is offering CUUBies an opportunity to engage the ideas from her November 7 sermon, “Understanding Our Families, Understanding Ourselves.” Using the book “Family Ties that Bind” by Dr. Ron Richardson, we’ll explore the family patterns that continue to influence our relationships with others. This book is readily available both new and used.
There are still one or two spaces left in the on-line group that is forming. If you’d be interested, please send Rev. Sue an email (minister@cuub.org). Day and time haven't been set yet, but weekday evenings or Saturdays are most likely.
Are you missing CUUB in-person gatherings?
Until we can safely gather again at the building, the Ministry Team is opening a one hour Zoom every Thursday night at 8:00 pm for a midweek “coffee hour”. This is an informal time to come together to re-connect, chat, and just hang out. There is no expectation other than being together! The Zoom link is found below and at www.cuub.org/calendar. Scroll down to the day of the event. Hope to see you there, friends.
https://zoom.us/j/92840233619
Communication Team News
Want to have an article in CUUB News? Send in (
news@cuub.org) what you want included and when (see publishing schedule below) and our great editors will make sure it is included. Deadline is Thursday 4 pm the day before publication (we do make exceptions for a good reason).
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Future CUUB News Publication Schedule*
January 14th & 28th
February 11th & 25th
March 11th & 25th
April 8th & 22nd
May 6th & 20th
June 3rd & 17th
* subject to change but we will let you know.
