Huntsville Unitarian Universalist Fellowship

"Whatever course you decide upon, there is always someone to tell you that you are wrong. There are always difficulties arising which tempt you to believe that your critics are right. To map out a course of action and follow it to an end requires...courage."--Ralph Waldo Emerson

Huntsville UU Services
Services are held on the 2nd and 4th Sundays of each month at 10:30 a.m. in the Laura Chapel of Huntsville Memorial Hospital. Visitors are always welcome. For more information, call 295-3170.

Sun. Nov. 13: James Johnson, our guest speaker, who has an M.A. degree in Music Therapy, will present the program originally scheduled for September 24, which was postponed because of Hurricane Rita.

In his presentation, James will introduce us to music therapy with a brief overview followed by a fun, interactive exercise designed to give birth to the music that bubbles inside each of us.

Sun. Nov. 27: Our guest speaker will be Dr. Frank Fair, Professor of Philosophy at SHSU. His topic is "Leading When You are Not in Charge."

Dr. Fair will present a commentary on the book Getting It Done by Roger Fisher and Alan Sharp. Roger Fisher of the Harvard Law School is famous for his book Getting to Yes, an inspirational, thought- provoking book about negotiation. Dr. Fair will share some of his and Alan Sharp's "common sense" ideas about how to help groups and teams become more effective.

Huntsville UU Women
Wed. Nov 2: The UU Women's Sharing Circle will meet at 10:30 a.m. at the home of Roberta Krock for a program on "Women and Poetry," to be presented by SHSU¹s "resident poet," our own Melissa Morphew. Please bring a favorite poem that you relate to as a woman to share.

Wed. Nov 9: UU women are invited to attend the Red Hat Society lunch at the Five Loaves restaurant (1329 University Avenue) at 11:00 a.m.

UU Book Club
Sun. Nov 6: The book club will meet November 6 at 3:30 p.m. at the home of Anne True and Rick Norman at 1879 Greenbriar in Elkins Lake. RSVPs are appreciated.

The book to be discussed is Noah's Flood: The New Scientific Discoveries About The Event That Changed History by Walter Pitman and William Ryan. Beth Williamson, who will lead the discussion, states it is not necessary to have read the book beforehand.

A Message from Dr. Schulman
We send loving thoughts and energy to the Schulmans, as they continue to battle with cancer. Frank sent the following message to the members of our fellowship on 10/17/05:

Dear Friends,

Our ties with the Huntsville Fellowship have grown stronger with the passing of time, and I hope they will continue. This week I expect to learn whether the operation is feasible, and whether I will let it go forward. When I know what decision is made, I'll let you know.

Again, my deepest regards and my love to all of you.
Frank

Diversity Forum: This month's meeting will be held at 7 p.m. at the Huntsville Mormon Church on 17th Street. Watch the Huntsville Item for the date. Anyone interested in raising awareness and finding solutions for racial tensions in the community is welcome.

A Native American Meditation
With Thanksgiving rapidly approaching, I am reminded that without our native American friends, those of us with European heritage would not be here today. This poem, written by a contemporary native American woman, is offered with gratitude for their gifts.

For the Love of the World
For the love of a tree, she went out on a limb.
For the love of the sea, she rocked the boat.
For the love of the earth, she dug deeper.
For the love of community, she mended fences.
For the love of the stars, she let her light shine.
For the love of spirit, she nurtured her soul.
For the love of a good time, she sowed seeds of happiness.
For the love of the Goddess, she drew down the moon.
For the love of nature, she made compost.
For the love of a good meal, she gave thanks.
For the love of family, she reconciled differences.
For the love of creativity, she entertained new possibilities.
For the love of her enemies, she suspended judgement.
For the love of herself, she acknowledged her worth.
And the world was richer for her.
--Charlotte Tall Mountain

Food for Thought: On Serenity
Calmness of mind is one of the beautiful jewels of wisdom. It is the result of long and patient effort in self-control. Its presence is an indication of ripened experience, and of a more than ordinary knowledge of the laws and operations of thought. . . The calm man, having learned how to govern himself, knows how to adapt himself to others; and they, in turn, reverence his spiritual strength, and feel that they can learn of him and rely upon him. The more tranquil a man becomes, the greater is his success, his influence, his power for good.

The strong, calm man is always loved and revered. He is like a shade-giving tree in a thirsty land, or a sheltering rock in a storm. Who does not love a tranquil heart, a sweet-tempered, balanced life? It does not matter whether it rains or shines, or what changes come to those possessing these blessings, for they are always sweet, serene, and calm. That exquisite poise of character which we call serenity is the last lesson of culture; it is the flowering of life, the fruitage of the soul.

--James Allen (1864-1912)
Excerpted from "As A Man Thinketh"

Huntsville UU Newsletter Deadline: To submit news to the UU newsletter, e-mail Gail Phillips. Please have any news or announcements that you would like to have in this newsletter to the editor by the 20th of each month.

Annual Meeting
On May 1, 2005, we elected officers and approved appointments to various positions listed below for the church year 2005-2006.

Officers

President: Carla McAdams

Co-Vice Pres./ Program Chairs: Scott and Anita Plummer

Treasurer: Lee Stringer

Secretary/Membership Chair: Joan Stringer

Immediate Past President: Karl Mahaffey

Appointed Positions

Organist: Dixon Lichtenauer

Keyboardist: Sylvia DeVoss

Co-Song Leaders: Melissa Templeton-Mahaffey, Beth Williamson, Dixon Lichtenauer

Co-Reading Leaders: Ann Staples, Richard Lane

Newsletter Editor: Gail Phillips

Order of Service Editor: Roberta Krock

Publicist: Stuart Williamson

Hospitality Coordinator: Pam Johnson