May 4 – Dick Smythe THREE (PLUS 1) VIEWS OF GOD AND RELIGION

By some measures the USA is the world's most religious country. Yet, Americans are the least religious now than they have ever been. We will briefly examine the views of three exceptional people - a famous preacher, a famous scientist, and a highly regarded physicist turned Anglican priest. We will conclude with a brief story (Plus 1) that may surprise you.

Dick Smythe is an entomologist retired from the research division of the US Forest Service. Throughout his life he has maintained two dominant interests: first, his fascination with the natural world - our non-human environment and endless source of wonder; second, his abiding interest in religion/

theology - a subject of continuing education and challenge.

Music: Lolly Lebovic Service Leader: Susan Leeder

May 11 – The Rev. Joan Shiels BAD GIRLS OF THE BIBLE OR WELL BEHAVED WOMEN SELDOM MAKE HISTORY

Most people assume that the women in the Bible were good Jewish girls: obedient, courteous

and docile. Nothing could be further from the truth! Willful and wise, trampled and triumphant, they used sex, subterfuge, chicanery and charm to get what they knew they deserved. We will visit a couple of the stories of the harlots, heartbreakers and heathens whose scintillating stories scorch the Old Testament.

Joan Shiels has a BA in Religion and a MA Theology with an emphasis in Bible as Literature. She was drawn to the Bible, in large part, by these wild and wily women’s stories.

Music: Ellen Shahbazi Service Leader: Bob Lindahl

May 18 – The Rev. Cynthia Barnes Johnson PLATEAUS AND CLIMBS, THEN IT’S TURTLES ALL THE WAY DOWN

I’ve often told people new to Unitarian Universalism that many of us alternate periods of resting on plateaus when we are experiencing congruity between what we believe and how we live our lives. And then…we depart from the comfortable plateaus when a new series of life’s persistent questions lead us into wilderness trails we but dimly see. A Unitarian hymn from my childhood put it this way: “We sing the stirring discontent that leaps from star to star.” Where are you on the

journey?

Cynthia Johnson, a retired Unitarian Universalist minister who served UU congregations in Texas and Oklahoma, joined UUFDC in 2000 when she and Al moved to Door County. Cynthia is active as an artist and a poet. She enjoys family and friends, nature, travel, and reading and writing.

Music: Craig Little and the UUFDC Choir, Cynthia Stiehl, conductor Service Leader: Susan Leeder

May 25 – The Rev. Cynthia Barnes Johnson MY MOTHER MISSED THE PARADE THAT DAY: A REFLECTION FROM SOMEONE BORN ON THE REAL MEMORIAL DAY

In his poem “The Young Dead Soldiers,” Archibald MacLeish wrote: “…They say: We have given our lives; they are yours; they will mean what you make them. They say: Whether our lives and deaths were for peace and a new hope or for nothing we cannot say; it is you who must say this…” So, what do we say?

Music: Gerri Friedberg Service Leader: Cyndy Stiehl

UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST FELLOWSHIP OF DOOR

COUNTY

May 2014

Volume 18, Issue 5

May Sunday Services

MAY 2014 UU UPDATE 2

Selection Criteria Developed for Third Sunday Collections By Judy Brodd

In addition to planning a month of April activities marking Earth Day, SRC recently developed criteria for the special collections for every Third Sunday in order to guarantee that your donations go to worthy causes that are legitimate and deserving. The following criteria are in place:

The seven principles of the Unitarian Universalists will be used as criteria to evaluate a proposal. The request must come from a 501c(3) organization, or The proposed recipient must find a sponsor/nonprofit organization to accept the funds. Local/regional, national and international requests must be balanced and reviewed by SRC. SRC should consider the percentage of

money that goes to program verses administrative costs. SRC must receive background information about the organization or project prior to making a decision. Members or friends of UUFDC who are directly involved within the organization will receive priority consideration. SRC will keep in mind the need to respond to urgent emergencies.

In addition, we have developed practices for communicating information about nominated selections to the fellowship. All members and friends are welcome and encouraged to nominate organizations that they feel would benefit. Please contact a member of the SRC to find out what responsibilities are required when nominating a Third Sunday Collection recipient. Thank you to ALL for your generous contributions in the past and future: UUFDC is making a difference!!

GOVERNING BOARD

Officers

President

Bob Lindahl

920-421-2470

bob.lindahl@gmail.com

Vice President

Karon Winzenz

920-823-2189

winzenzk@msn.com

Treasurer

Juliana Neuman

920-839-2710

juliana.neuman@gmail.com

Secretary

Carrie Link

920-839-9913

clinksemail@gmail.com

Past President

Cynthia Stiehl

920-854-5048

cmstiehl@aol.com

Directors

Building & Grounds

Dave Vermillion

Education and

Enrichment

Valerie Murre-Schlick

Finance

Juliana Neuman

Social Responsibility

Judy Brodd

Program

Morris Waxler

At Large

Alan Kopischke

Sam Carmen

Administrator

Pat Crow - 920-854-7559

contact@uufdc.org

Our mission is to be a community of faith committed to the freedom of intellectual and spiritual inquiry and to the promotion of the worth and dignity of all persons,

through service to its members, friends and the

larger community.

President’s Column By Bob Lindahl

Ah SPRING…do I dare say it?? Any day now, ice will be out of the harbors!

Hope springs eternal in the human breast; Man never Is, but always To be blest: The soul, uneasy and confin'd from home, Rests and expatiates in a life to come.

From “An Essay on Man,” by Alexander Pope (1733)

Every Spring, I experience boundless energy. No project seems too big…a larger garden, sure; rip out and replace a wall on the old barn, of course; train my pup-py, well, maybe; plan a backpacking trip, absolutely; buy and plant an atrocious number of annuals, I must!

Pope’s poem speaks of human nature and it’s tendency to always hope for the best…that things will get better, stronger and more fulfilling in the future.

OK…I tend to forget that many of last year’s spring projects await completion. I may not always follow through; I may lose enthusiasm mid-project, but I have the potential to conquer my flaws this year!

So it is in the life of our Fellowship. We do amazing things together. We’re al-ways looking for new ways to live out the Seven Principles of Unitarian Universal-ism. The number of programs initiated and commitments made by this congrega-tion with 107 members is astounding. Sometimes we get overextended and pri-orities become murky. Just as in life, when that happens, we need to review where we’ve been, take a break to reflect and to remember that Hope Springs Eternal. By the time you receive this, our congregation will have spent five days working to redefine priorities for the next five years. Will “Hope Spring Eternal?” With each of us pitching in, of course it will!

MAY 2014 UU UPDATE 3

May 18 Third Sunday to Fund UUFDC Social Justice Scholarship By Cindy Nelson

Early this past fall, members of the Social Responsibility Committee voted to offer a yearly scholarship of $1000, funded by the congregation with a Third Sunday Collection, to a deserving senior from Gibraltar High School. The idea was generated for a variety of reasons: to promote the UUFDC message of social justice to the greater community, to support and recognize a young person already actively involved in social justice, and to have a more visible presence in the greater community.

Applicants wrote essays answering two questions: What does the term "social justice" mean to you? How do your actions support your beliefs about social justice? The application also included a letter of recommendation. Five members of the SRC volunteered to be "readers". Applicants' names and identifying information were deleted. The scholarship recipient will be announced at the Gibraltar High School Senior Awards Banquet on May 21. Bob Lindahl, as President, has agreed to be the presenter. The plan is to invite our recipient to a service sometime this summer, prior to college starting in the fall. Please be generous as we support the next generation of active citizens carrying on the message of social justice.

UU Book Club By Karon Winzenz

Our next meeting is scheduled for May 7th starting at 1:30pm, hosted by Peggy Lott who will contact you early in the month. We will discuss The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America's Great Migration (2010). This historical study by Isabel Wilkerson focuses on the mass movement of blacks between 1915 and 1970 who left southern states in search of work, settling in the Midwest, Northeast and West.

Then on June 4th at 1:30 pm we will discuss Kayak Morning; Reflections on Love, Grief, and Small Boats, a memoire

by Roger Rosenblatt. Two and a half years after the death of his thirty-eight-year-old daughter, Roger heads out in his kayak. The author offers a personal meditation on grief that addresses the universal experience of loss. Lynn Lees, who loved the book, will host at her home and will contact members in late May regarding attendance.

May Dickinson Series Features Hanne Gault

Hanne Gault is the featured reader on Wednesday, May 14 at 7 pm for the UUFDC Dickinson Poetry Series.

Gault has lived in Ellison Bay since 1997.

She belongs to two poetry groups and has been published in Wisconsin Poets’ Calendar, Free Verse and The Pulse. She won third prize in The Joanne Hirshfield memorial contest in Chicago, Illinois, and was nominated for a Pushcart prize in 2012. Gault was featured in the July 2012 issue of Door County Living and has published one chapbook, You Are From Where?, in which she asks the question she has answered many times since leaving Denmark fifty-some years ago.

Gault has been writing poetry for most of her adult life. Of poetry she says: “Poetry has existed in every civilization we know

Dollars and $ense By Juliana Neuman, Treasurer

FINANCIAL SUMMARY FINANCIAL SUMMARY – July, 2013, thru March, 2014 (Fiscal Year to Date)

Income Expenses

Pledges 79,830 Program/Music 13,661

Donations 4,171 Religious Education 2,073

Offering 4,691 Memorial Service 375

Space Use 242 Administration 30,520

Cultural Affairs 805 Committees 2,821

Fundraising 136 Publicity/Website 3,300

Investments 987 UUA Dues 6,038

Other 226 Maintenance 18,061

Insurance 2,535

Interest on Loan 3,305

Utilities 4,852

Total 91,088 Total 87,541

Mortgage principal payments for this period totaled $4028. Our loan bal-ance is now $104,747. Many members and friends have helped with these payments in addition to pledging

The Governing Board has directed the Finance Committee to propose some guidelines for managing bequests and/or funds held in reserve. A Task Force on Planned Giving will be established in the next couple of months.

If you have had experience with a legacy program, perhaps in connection with another organization, please consider serving on this Task Force. Contact Bob Lindahl or Juliana Neuman.

Donations: Many thanks to Nancy and Jay Dickson for their contribution for operating expenses received in April.

CONTINUED ON THE NEXT PAGE →

MAY 2014 UU UPDATE 4

and is probably needed now more than ever. For me, poetry fills a need to speak in words as sparingly and universally as possible. I draw most of my inspiration from people I have known and observed over the years, their lives and their peculiarities. I have a quirky sense of humor and generally take it as far as I dare without going over the edge. I tend to see the humorous side of life while also trying to be conscious of social inequities.”

Climate Change Coalition Meeting to Focus on Antarctic Research

Scientific research in Antarctica will be the focus of a presentation by Bruce Smith, Atmospheric Education Resource Agent for the American Meteorological Society (AMS). The presentation is sponsored by the Climate Change Coalition of Door County and will be held on Wednesday, May 7th at 7 pm at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Door County.

Smith spent three months in Antarctica as part of the National Science Foundation’s Teachers Experiencing

Antarctic (TEA) program and assisting with the work of the Cape Roberts Project, an international, multi-year drilling project on the Ross Ice Shelf. Smith will describe his experiences living and working at McMurdo Station, Antarctica. Smith will also describe the AMS Education programs and his perspectives on climate change education.

Bruce Smith is a resident of Baileys Harbor and currently teaches meteorology for the University of Wisconsin Colleges Online.

May Movies That Matter Features Gasland Part II

Don’t miss Gasland Part II on Tuesday, May 20 at 4:30 pm. In this explosive follow-up to his Oscar®-nominated film Gasland, filmmaker Josh Fox uses his trademark dark humor to take a deeper, broader look at the dangers of hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, the controversial method of extracting natural gas and oil, now occurring on a global level in 32 countries worldwide.

Gasland Part II shows how the stakes have been raised on all sides in one of

the most important environmental issues facing our nation today. The film argues that the gas industry’s portrayal of natural gas as a clean and safe alternative to oil is a myth and that fracked wells inevitably leak over time, contaminating water and air, hurting families, and endangering the earth’s climate with the potent greenhouse gas, methane. In addition the film looks at how the powerful oil and gas industries are in Fox's words "contaminating our democracy".

Local Watercolorist Ed Fenendael Featured at UU Gallery

By Ginny Olson

Award-winning artist, teacher, student, business owner, gardener—just a few of the categories in which Ed Fenendael excels. This multi-faceted Door County resident will be featured at the Gallery of the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Door County in the month of May.

Fenendael is a native of Wisconsin growing up on a dairy farm just outside of Pound, Wisconsin. He studied in a one-room school house and later at Marquette University graduating from the School of Dentistry. He always enjoyed the creative process and began to study art in Kansas City, Missouri upon his graduation. There he was invited to teach watercolor and continues to this day at the Continuing Program at the Kansas City Art Institute in the winter. With over 25 national shows in the past few years and numerous awards, he also teaches workshops in the US, Italy, Greece, France, and Mexico.

Fenendael’s subject is often a beautiful pastoral scene. “I am very much inspired by the pastoral scenes of the world, the rich heritage that the scenes of everyday life afford us…simple things, close to the earth things.” The soothing shades of these scenes not only capture worldwide and Door County landscapes, but Fenendael’s love of gardening as well. The gardens of his co-owned Baileys Harbor bed and breakfast, The Inn at Windmill Farm, are featured in this month’s Country Style Gardening magazine.

Set on the lush, colorful Windmill Farm property is Fenendael’s studio and personal gallery, Morning Mist Studio. Here he exhibits his work and conducts workshops and weekly classes from May to October. See www.watercolorexcitement.com for more information.

At the UUFDC Gallery, his displayed paintings and signed, numbered, limited edition reproductions will be available for purchase. The UUFDC Gallery is open Monday, Wednesday, Friday from 1-3 pm and on Sundays from 11 am to 12:30 pm.

→ CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE

ECO Solutions

By Meg Vermillion

Water runoff, contaminated from the use of pesticides is a serious prob-lem. Consider the following safe and inexpensive alternative: 1 Quart White Vinegar 1 Teaspoon Dish Soap 1/4 Cup Salt Directions: Spray on leafy weeds in-cluding base of stem; otherwise pour at base of stem. Another option: pour left over boiling pasta water on weeds.

MAY 2014 UU UPDATE 5

Caring Committee News May Caring Volunteers are: Mary Smythe, 854-3330, dick.smythe@yahoo.com Arlene Johnson, 839-2298, aj.johnson100@hotmail.com There will be a Meeting of the Caring Committee on Thursday, May 15th, at 1:00 PM at the Fellowship.

Highway Cleanup!!

Each year, UUFDC commits to clean the roadside on a two mile stretch of Hwy 42 between Ellison Bay and Gills Rock. On Thursday, May 22, we need eight people to make quick work of cleaning up after winter. Meet at Bob Lindahl's, with gloves, at 9 am and be done no later than 11 am. Bob's home is at 12490 Timberline Rd near Gills Rock. Light sustenance will be served before starting.

Memorial Day Fishboil!

Wind up your Memorial Day weekend, Monday May 26, by joining your favorite bunch of Door County UUs for a Fishboil! Bob Lindahl, at 12490 Timberline Rd near Gills Rock, will boil up fresh whitefish from Weborg's and grill brats for non-pescetarians, if you bring a dish and your favorite beverage. Some lawn chairs would also be helpful.

We can gather around 4 pm for appetizers and expect a boil-over at about 6 pm. Hope to see YOU there… pescetarian or not!

Sometimes It Takes a Village . . .

In June the UU Gallery will feature Shall Not Be Recognized, an exhibit of portraits of 30 Milwaukee-area same-sex couples in long-term relationships, by photographer Jeff Pearcy and author Will Fellows. Bringing this traveling exhibit to the UUFDC will literally take a village. The Governing Board made the commitment and is providing volunteers for transportation, hanging the show, etc.; the Gallery Committee freed up a month; other fellowship volunteers will provide the refreshments for the Gallery Talk (with the photographer Jeff Pearcy) and Opening Reception on Friday, June 6; SRC

is funding outreach on this social justice issue with a Third Sunday Collection; and our administrator is trying to keep all the balls in the air. Mark your calendars for Friday, June 6 and call Pat because the village can always use your help.

Focus on Transportation

Northern Door Health & Wellness Ministry continues its Community Health Information Programs with an upcoming presentation on “Recent Changes and Future Plans Regarding Transportation in Northern Door County” to be held on

Sunday, May 18, at 4:00 pm at First Baptist Church in Sister Bay. Door 2 Door and Door Tran continue to enhance their transportation services to Northern Door County. Come hear changes and future plans at the next CHIP Program.

Caravan Gypsy Swing Ensemble Plays UUFDC

Authentic Gypsy Jazz from the Midwest comes to the UUFDC on Saturday, May 10, 7 pm. The performance will conclude with a complimentary reception and a chance to meet the musicians. Admission is just $10; reservations are accepted at contact@uufdc.org or 845-7559.

Caravan is an instrumental group based out of Madi-son, Wisconsin. They are primarily influenced by the legendary Gypsy guitarist Django Reinhardt. The en-semble also pulls influences from jazz, swing, tradi-tional Latin, Parisian waltzes, and other vintage-jazz sources. Expect a range of tunes from the "Hot Swing" repertoire, originals and standards done in uniquely arranged styles.

Caravan has had substantial experience with live performance in a broad range of settings including concert halls, festivals, night clubs, and corporate/private events. They have had a wide variety of live radio experience including numerous appearances on Wisconsin Public Radio's "Higher Ground with Jonathan Overby."

Caravan is an experienced, seasoned group with a unique sound and a diverse repertoire even within the Gypsy Jazz genre. Although the music of Django Rein-hardt it still at the core of the band they have learned to take Gypsy Swing music in a broad range of directions. This will be a fun concert!

Inequality For All at the UUFDC

The UU Fellowship is hosting a free screening of Inequality For All on Thursday, May 1 at 6:30 pm, followed by a conference call with Robert Reich and panel dis-cussion. The Fellowship is joining faith-based organizations nationwide in a cele-bration of May Day by providing their wider communities with the opportunity to view and discuss this award-winning documentary about income inequality in our nation and the way it has shaped our economy and democracy.

The issues addressed in this film are arguably the most pressing issue of our times. Inequality For All allows viewers to start with little or no understanding of what it means for the U.S. to be economically imbalanced, and walk away with a comprehensive and significantly deeper sense of the issue and what can be done about it. Don’t miss this special evening.

Welcome to our New Members

We are happy to welcome three new members. Anna Knapp, Andria Nikoupo-lis-Weliky, and Jennifer Aldrich all signed the book in April. Watch for profiles in upcoming newsletters.

UU Update

Mailed Subscription: $15 per year

Emailed Subscription: No charge

Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Door County.

10341 Water Street (Hwy 42) Ephraim

Mailing address:

P. O. Box 859, Sister Bay, WI 54234

Phone: 920-854-7559

Email: contact@uufdc.org

Submit information to:

Pat Crow contact@uufdc.org

Web page: www.uufdc.org

Sunday Services: 10:00 am

May Calendar of Events For the most up-to-date calendar, please go to: www.uufdc.org/calendar

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1

1

Inequality For All

6:30 pm

2 3

4

10 am SERVICE

Dick Smythe

11-12:30 Gallery

5

1-3 pm Gallery

6

7 UU Book

Group 1:30 pm

U-Night 7 pm

CCC 7 pm

8

9

1-3 pm Gallery

10 Emerson:

7 pm

Caravan

Gypsy Swing

11 10 am SERVICE Rev. Joan Shiels

11-12:30 Gallery

12

1-3 pm Gallery

13

Governing Board

4:00 pm

14

1-3 pm Gallery

7 pm Dickinson Poetry

Hanne Gault

15

Caring Committee

1 pm

16

1-3 pm Gallery

17

18 10 am SERVICE

Rev. Cynthia Johnson

11-12:30 Gallery

4 pm Transportation Program

19

1-3 pm Gallery

20

Movies That Matter 4:30 pm

Gasland ll

21

1-3 pm Gallery

U-Night 7 pm

22

Highway Cleanup

9 am

23

1-3 pm Gallery

24

DC Strings

Fundraiser

25 10 am SERVICE

Rev. Cynthia Johnson

11-12:30 Gallery

11:30 SRC Meeting

26

UU Fishboil

4 pm

27

28

1-3 pm Gallery

29

30

1-3 pm Gallery

31

Happy Birthday to those celebrating in May:

2 - Roger Benedict; 6 - Martha Judd; 17 - Terry Goode;

20 - Mary Smythe;28 - Cynthia Oliver; 29 - Jane Delcarson;

30 - Cynthia Johnson