The North Unitarian Universalist Congregation Newsletter

November 2010

Page 4

Call to Action!   Description: MCj02974890000[1]

 

 

 

Holiday Family Project 

 

Description: C:\Users\Susan\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\2YBDXIE7\MC900436296[1].pngIt's the holidays and some families are finding it hard to make ends meet. Without our help, children will go without presents this season.

 

Your Social Action Committee decided to act locally this year, and we are excited to be giving our Holiday Families donations to People In Need in Delaware www.delawarepeopleinneed.org
Donations of cash and gift items will be accepted through December 5 (make checks payable to NUUC and write “Holiday Family” in the memo.  Drop in the offering basket or mail them to: NUUC, Attn: HF, P. O. Box 541, Lewis Center, OH  43035).  Our November and December “Loose Change” offerings will also benefit this project.   Distribution to families will be on December 12. If you have any questions, please contact Lyn Herron at 614-519-5378 or
ohiolyn@aol.com

 

For  a list of gift suggestions, visit the PIN website at http://delawarepeopleinneed.org/holidayclearinghouse10.html

Refreshment Help Requested

 

One NUUC tradition that carries on week to week is coffee, cookies, and conversation after services.  In an effort to share in the set up and clean up of this after-service treat, a monthly sign-up schedule has been designed.  A very special thank you to all of you who have taken a turn at this task this year.

 

If you have not already done so, could you spare a bit of time some Sunday to help?  The process is easy--all you have to do is follow instructions that are already posted in the kitchen on where everything is and how to make coffee (if you don't know how). And then clean up after and put things back.  Everything is provided for you.  (But, of course, if you want to try a new cookie recipe or have dessert left from a meeting or family function, you are more than welcome to share it!)

 

This is the perfect opportunity to work as a couple, or grab a friend to help.  If everyone took a turn, no one would have to do it every week.  And it's fun!   We are currently scheduling through February—see the sign-up sheet on the bulletin board for available dates, or please contact Teri Cornell at tericornell@ymail.com or 614-891-5935. 

 

 

Remember the “Share” Project

 

Description: C:\Users\Susan\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\ZPCDPK1Q\MC900351185[1].wmfColder weather is upon us…so please remember this project the next time you clean out your linen closet…

 

If you have used (but stain-free) towels and washcloths that you would like to get rid of, please consider donating them to "Share” for their use in making sleeping bags for the homeless.  (Other items that are needed are fabric, blankets, and men's ties.)  Donation is easy—just give to Lynn Foreman at service any Sunday morning.  (If you can’t find her, you may leave the items on Jeri’s desk in the center office off Fellowship Hall with a note marked “for Share project.”)  Right now there is an urgent need to make more sleeping bags—see the website below for info about how to help with the assembly.

 

“Share” has also sent out an appeal for help with toiletry and personal care items.  Especially needed are: new or gently used washcloths/towels; toothpaste/brushes; *men’s deodorant; disposable razors; *men’s socks; safety pins; sewing kits (Dollar Tree has great name brand health items!)  Place items in labeled box on desk in Fellowship Hall.  See bulletin board for complete list of items.

(* women will use men's items but men won't use women's). 

For more information about either of the above projects, www.Shareyourbest.us or contact NUUC Coordinator Lynn Foreman sbgmacb@hotmail.com or 740-513-4876.

 

 

NUUC Bumper Stickers

 

The Communications Committee still has some of the new NUUC bumper stickers.  Our “Many beliefs.  One faith” stickers are an eye-catching bright yellow with black print and are available for purchase for just $4.00.  See the bulletin board in Fellowship Hall to get yours.  For more information, contact Kristin Grimshaw at 614-840-1950 or grimshaw@wowway.com.

 

“Loose Change” Project Update 

 

Description: C:\Users\Susan\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\S4RVR7C1\MP900446764[1].jpgYour Social Action Committee will continue its “Loose Change” project in 2010 by collecting your loose coins during the worship service on Sunday, December 12, as it has on the second Sunday of each month throughout the past year.

 

The Loose Change collections for November and December will benefit our Holiday Family Project through the Delaware Co. agency People In Need (PIN).  For more information about the organization, visit http://delawarepeopleinneed.org/

 

Additional deserving recipients of our monthly Loose Change collections are always under discussion.  For questions regarding the “Loose Change” project or to suggest a recipient, contact Chair Tracy Steinbrenner at tracystein@att.net or any member of your Social Action Committee.

 

 

 

 

 

Open Invitation from Social Action Committee

 

The NUUC Social Action Committee typically meets the first Sunday of the month, after service, in Nielsen House.  For more information please feel free to attend a committee meeting or talk to any member of your Social Action Committee.  The next meeting will be Sunday, December 5 after service.  Contact Chair Tracy Steinbrenner at tracystein@att.net for questions.  Won’t you join us?

 

 

“Empty Bowls” fundraiser a success!  

 

A big thank-you to all who prepared soup, helped with set-up, serving and clean-up, and stayed after service to purchase and eat the delicious homemade soups made by members of our congregation during our “Empty Bowls” fundraiser held on Sunday, Nov. 7.

 

Our efforts raised $565.00 for the Mid-Ohio Food Bank – well done!  This is one of our most satisfying and meaningful annual events of the year, where we get to make and eat great soups, support our local Food Banks, and spend time talking with our friends.  As in years past, our NUUC youth joined with others in the community and made bowls for the event.

 

Thank you for your support.

 

Tracy Steinbrenner

Social Action Chair

 

 Red Lake Nation Project

 

Last August many of you may remember our guest speaker Donna Hrabcakova who spoke of her work on the Red Lake Nation Reservation.  Donna told the story of life on the reservation and her work with The International Council of Thirteen Indigenous Grandmothers www.grandmotherscouncil.com.  Donna is one of 30 students from around the world doing Doctoral work in San Francisco at THE CENTER OF SACRED STUDIES studying Indigenous Spirituality, Therapy, Ritual along with Alternative and Plant Medicine.

 

Donna is a registered art therapist who applied to the reservation after the fatal shooting where in 2005, ten youth and adults where killed by a student on Red Lake Reservation.  This shooting was the second worst in the United States outside of Columbine.  Donna applied during a National and Canadian search for trauma response therapists to the reservation to deal with this devastating grief and loss.  Donna got the job and moved to the reservation which is a closed Sovereign Ojibwa Reservation.  Donna is one of only a few Caucasian people living in this North region on the border of Canada.  She has been there for five years and has been working with Middle and High School students and their families doing triage, post traumatic stress work and helping develop safety and empowerment to all teenage girls, who often drop out of school due to the high pregnancy rate.

 

Like me, I know that many of those in the congregation that day were extremely moved by Donna’s story.  After the service I asked Donna what we might be able to do as individuals and as a congregation to help.  Donna and I have been corresponding since then and I have presented this project to the Social Action Committee.  Through the church and the SAC we will start on a journey to help those on the reservation.  As Donna says “there are so many needs on the reservation so numerous, so encompassing it is hard to fine tune it.”  So, we are going to start with two projects:

  1. We will be collecting nice journals to send to Donna for her to distribute to her students.  She likes to give journals to the girls at the beginning of the year so they can have a safe place to vent their feelings.  Donna can see over 100 to 150 girls per year so whatever we can do here to help would be appreciated.
  2. The kids always need clothes, underwear, bras etc.  Donna has students who won’t come to school because they do not have the right bra size.  We will collect gift cards to either Wal-Mart or Target as those are the two stores that are in town where Donna takes the girls shopping.

 

As far as the journals and gift cards go, there will be a box in fellowship hall marked Red Lake Nation Project where you can place your items starting in January.  If you prefer to help by making a cash donation you can do that as well.  Just make your check out to NUUC and put “Red Lake Nation Project” in the memo line.  You can drop it in the offering basket on any Sunday or mail to the church (NUUC, Attn: JGD, P. O. Box 541, Lewis Center, OH  43035).  We will collect the money and put it towards the two projects mentioned above.

 

Diane Mattox (dimattox@gmail.com) and I will be the contacts for this project so if you have any questions we are available to help.  I will end this article as Donna ends her e-mails:

 

Remember: We are all representatives of our families and our beliefs.  Let your life shine.

 

Yvonne Clippinger

yclippin@columbus.rr.com

 

 

 

 

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