Huntsville Unitarian Universalist Fellowship

"I am an old man and have known a great many troubles, but most of them never happened." --Mark Twain 1835-1910 Humorist and Writer

Huntsville UU Services
Summer services are held on the 2nd Sunday of each month at 10:30 a.m. in the Laura Chapel of Huntsville Memorial Hospital. In September, services will return to the regular schedule of meeting on the 2nd and 4th Sundays of each month. Visitors are always welcome. For more information, call 295-3170.

Sun. June 11: Our guest speaker will be Ralph Pease, PhD., a Minnie Stevens Piper Professor in the English Department at Sam Houston State University, where he has taught since 1972. He won the university's Excellence in Teaching Award in 1983. Pease has a B.A. from the University of Texas at Austin, an M.A. from Southern Methodist University, and a Ph.D. from Texas A&M University. He has also served as an officer in the Marine Corps.

Pease's topic is "Mark Twain's Religion or Lack Thereof." It has been the academic fashion since the 1960s to speak of Mark Twain as two people: Samuel Clemens, the printer and steamboat pilot, and Mark Twain, the cantankerous but beloved American humorist and sage. It may be possible to divide the two personas each from the other, but there is in both halves a continuing theological divide that comes from one and is publicized in the other. Clemens is one of the most complex authors in American literature, and his religious beliefs reinforce that complexity.

Sun. July 9: Rev. Tom Capo from Spindletop U-U will be our speaker. He comes highly- recommended by those who heard him speak in April.

Huntsville UU Women
Wed. June 7: The Women’s Sharing Circle will meet at 10:30 a.m. at the home of Carla McAdams to continue study of the book Simple Steps, which is a guide for taking control of one’s life. Simone Woodall will lead the discussion for Lesson 1. Afterwards the group will go to lunch at Cloud 9.

The Women’s Sharing Circle is a small group of women who meet monthly to discuss topics of mutual interest and to be supportive of each other. It is open to all interested women, and the beginning of a new curriculum is a great time to start. For more information, call Roberta at 295-2178 or Gail at 438-8569.

Annual Meeting Held
On May 20 the Huntsville UU Fellowship held its annual meeting at the home of Anne True and Rick Norman. The main order of business was the election of new officers, who will begin their responsibilities in June. They are as follows:

President: Carla McAdams
Co-Vice Presidents (in charge of program): Anne True and Rick Norman
Secretary: Brenda Barr
Treasurer: Mardi Sale

Members in appointed positions were also acknowledged, as most agreed to continue for a second year. New appointees are Simone Woodall for Membership, Anne Sigler for Hospitality, and Paul Culp for Publicity. Roberta Krock has also accepted the position of Coordinator of the Huntsville UU Web Site.

Discussion about the future direction of the fellowship and approval of the budget followed. Afterwards members enjoyed a delightful pot luck dinner together.

Annual UU Fellowship Picnic--September 30
Note the time and location change: Join us at 5 p.m. at the Phillips's house in Elkins Lake for our yearly fellowship picnic. Watch for more information in the next newsletter.

Volunteers Needed
How many times do we think about doing volunteer work but just don't get around to it? Remember that the Seven Principles of Unitarian-Universalists encourage us to make a strong commitment to social awareness and social responsibility.

Here is one more opportunity to serve. Glen and Kathy Payne report that drivers are badly needed on Tuesdays for Meals on Wheels. For more information, call the Senior Center of Walker County, 295-6151.

"If not me, who? If not now, when?" --Hilliel, The Talmud

From Stuart Williamson--Can Anyone Help?
If you would like to help someone who is really trying to help herself, consider RH, a young black mother of two children who is looking for work as a housekeeper, gardener, or pet sitter. Unfortunately, she does not have a telephone at this time, but the Williamsons are willing to be her contact person and will take calls for her at 295-3170.

Congratulations to Our Winners!
UU fellowship members Melissa Templeton-Mahaffey and Anne Sigler have recently won two very different kinds of races.

As we all know, many people gripe about local politics, but Melissa decided to do something about the things she doesn’t like. This incredibly busy woman re-organized her priorities and declared herself a candidate for the Huntsville City Council. After conducting a campaign stressing her support of fair representation for every citizen and not just special interest groups, Melissa won her seat and was recently sworn into office. Way to go, Melissa!

Anne Sigler is another kind of winner. Along with her four daughters and after months of training, Anne participated in the Danskin Triathlon held in Orlando, Florida, on Mother’s Day. Named "Kelley’s Girls" for their father, who as a spectator proudly sported a T-shirt reading "I’m Kelley!" this team went all the way, completing a half-mile swim, 12-mile bike ride and a 3.1 mile run. This was pretty awesome when you consider that it was Anne’s first triathlon. What an inspiration for the rest of us Senior Citizens!!!

UU Thespians to Star in Production of Charlotte's Web
The SHSU Department of Theatre and Dance, in conjunction with the Huntsville Arts Commission and the City of Huntsville, is presenting a Children’s Theatre Festival production of Charlotte’s Web.

The play, adapted from the E.B. White book by Joseph Robinette, tells the story of an affectionate, sometimes bashful pig named Wilbur, who befriends a spider named Charlotte.

The cast includes some of our own accomplished UU members. Accomplished thespian Alex Norman is playing the part of the sheep. Novice performers Payson and Elliot Norman will be goslings and assume several other ensemble roles as well.

Performances will be held June 21-23 at 7 p.m. at the University Theatre Center’s Mainstage Theatre. Please see Anne True or Rick Norman for complimentary tickets.

Growing Good Corn
There was a Nebraska farmer who grew award-winning corn. Each year he entered his corn in the state fair where it won a blue ribbon. One year a newspaper reporter interviewed him and learned something interesting about how he grew it. The reporter discovered that the farmer shared his seed corn with his neighbors.

”How can you afford to share your best seed corn with your neighbors when they are entering corn in competition with yours each year?” the reporter asked.

”Why sir,” said the farmer, “didn't you know? The wind picks up pollen from the ripening corn and swirls it from field to field. If my neighbors grow inferior corn, cross-pollination will steadily degrade the quality of my corn. If I am to grow good corn, I must help my neighbors grow good corn.”

He is very much aware of the connectedness of life. His corn cannot improve unless his neighbor’s corn also improves.

So it is in other dimensions. Those who choose to be at peace must help their neighbors to be at peace. Those who choose to live well must help others to live well, for the value of a life is measured by the lives it touches. And those who choose to be happy must help others to find happiness, for the welfare of each is bound up with the welfare of all.

The lesson for each of us is this: if we are to grow good corn, we must help our neighbors grow good corn. --Author Unknown

Thought for the Day
"Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless." --Mother Teresa

From the Newsletter Editor: Thoughts on Healing Prayer
(I have ended up here with a blank half-page of paper, and being of a frugal mind, I hate to waste it and have therefore decided to write an editorial. Gail Phillips)

As a Unitarian, I have been uncomfortable with the word prayer for a long time, partly out of respect for the diversity of beliefs which I recognize among members of our church and partly because, quite frankly, it seems awkward to "pray" when you have an indefinite notion of who or what you are praying to. And I accepted a long time ago that my limited human mind was probably not capable of understanding the true nature of the divine.

Nevertheless, as I grow older and hopefully wiser, I more frequently feel a desire to connect with a spiritual being beyond the reality of my own experience. I envy people who are so certain of the nature of their gods. I want to be on their "prayer lists."

There is now scientific data which indicates that prayer works (no matter who or what the prayer is directed to). I think it is the positive energy offered to the universe which heals. Therefore, I have started a "Heartfelt Thoughts" list and find comfort in believing I can send love and positive energy to others, such as to SW, who has recently had surgery, and to DL,who will be soon undergoing it. Or even just to a friend having a hard day. And, strangely enough, I feel better afterwards too.

It may all be a matter of semantics--but so what? Whatever works!

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 20, 2006, we elected officers and approved appointments to various positions listed below for the church year 2006-2007.

Officers

President: Carla McAdams

Co-Vice Pres./ Program Chairs: Anne True, Rick Norman

Treasurer: Mardi Sale

Secretary: Brenda Barr

Appointed Positions

Music Director: Dixon Lichtenauer

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

Co-Reading Leaders: Ann Sts, Richard Lane

Membership Chair: Simone Woodall

Newsletter Editor: Gail Phillips

Order of Service Editor/Webpage Editor: Roberta Krock

Publicist: Paul Culp

Hospitality Coordinator: Anne Sigler