the_week@horizonuu a publication of horizon unitarian universalist church * January 18, 2015.
Page 2 PUBLISHED WEEKLY
VOLUME 15, ISSUE V.1.18.15.
The_Week@HorizonUU FOR SUBMISSIONS EMAIL: The_week @horizonuu.org
SUBMISSION DEADLINE: Every Wednesday
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Horizon Unitarian Universalist Church Carrollton, TX 75010
Weekly Service: Sundays 10:30 AM
Sunday Service: Jan. 18, 2015 Remembering the Life of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Rev. Helen Carroll
Administrator @horizonuu.org
PHONE: (972) 492-4940 WEB SITE: www.horizonuu.org
PHOTOS: Horizon Staff Photo: Freely distributed by Creative Commons STOCK PHOTOS: www.pixabay.com
“We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny.” - Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
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Horizon News Share the Plate – Horizon’s Share the Plate recipient for January will be the Texas Civil Rights Project. TCRP is a non-profit organization with the mission of promoting racial, social and economic justice through litigation, education and social services for low/moderate-income persons who are the least able to defend themselves. Metrocrest – Horizon members are asked to bring shelf stable items to church for Metrocrest Social Services which serves our local area. Each Sunday there will be an invitation to bring shelf-stable food stuffs to the front when the children come forward for the Children's Conversation. Please hand your donations to a young person to take forward!
Congregational Meeting Lunch - On Sunday, January 25th a meeting/lunch (spaghetti, salad, dessert) will be prepared and served by Heifer Ranch Global Village participants and their parents after the service. Please join us and give generously to help fund this intensive educational experience which will inspire and engage our young people to help end hunger and poverty and care for the earth. Suggested donation $5-10 per person. After Church Lunch Bunch – The Lunch Bunch meets after church most Sundays. Check the Welcome Desk for this week’s location. Everyone is welcome! Lost and Found – Last week a pair of eyeglasses with pink frames and a red string necklace with three pendants were found in the Church. Please check the Lost and Found box in the office.
Adult Religious Exploration – John Myers will lead the discussion on Kindness. January 18th, 9:00 am to 10:10 am in the Horizon Library. Serve Humanity - Give Blood! The Carter Bloodcare Bloodmobile will be at Horizon Sunday, February 1st from 9:30 to 12:30. See Paul Nelson to sign up for a donation time. pnelson114@gmail.com
Church Office will be closed Monday, January 19th, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
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WORSHIP CIRCLE
Sunday Service - January 25, 2015 In the Spirit of Non-Violence Bhaskar Padakandla “To worship the wise is much easier than to profit by their wisdom. Great leaders are honored, not by adulation, but by sharing their insight and values.” – Clinton Lee Scott
Sunday Service - February 1, 2015 LovingKindness Rev. Helen Carroll “Love is what we are born with. Fear is what we learn. The spiritual journey is the unlearning of fear and the acceptance of love back into our hearts.” – Marianne Williamson
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WORSHIP CIRCLE
Sunday Service - February 8, 2015 For Better, For Worse Rev. Helen Carroll “In the true marriage relation, the independence of the husband and wife is equal the dependence mutual and their obligations reciprocal .” – Lucretia Mott to Elizabeth Cady Stanton
Sunday Service - February 15, 2015 For So the Children Come Rev. Helen Carroll “Your children are not your children. They are the sons and daughters of Life's longing for itself.” – Kahlil Gibran
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FROM THE MINISTER
mUUsings Greetings from your interim minister.
As a church community you are growing and stretching. This year, you continue the work of nurturing one another, being a witness and instrument for social justice, and exploring your ethical and spiritual connections. Together new members and friends join oldtimers on committees, in worship and religious exploration, and over casual coffee and conversation. You have much to celebrate. And still, change is in the air.
How could it be otherwise? With the ending of a settled ministry, you began an intentional period of transition – a time for looking deeply at your history and becoming clear about who you are. That kind of reflection has led to shifts. There have been changes in what you do and how you do it. As you enter the next step of this interim year expect to continue exploring, adjusting, and changing. Likely, there will be new hands for old tasks as well as familiar voices in new roles. The connection to the wider Unitarian Universalist world will strengthen. Yet, most exciting of all is the commitment to new leadership and a new future that will come out of this transition time.
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FROM THE MINISTER
mUUsings
Loren Mean wrote, “It is one thing to hire a new pastor. It is quite another thing for a congregation to enter a commitment to a new ordained leader and the possibility of new tasks and missions.” It will take all of you, working together, to grow into a new vision of who you are to become. Hard, exciting, fun, challenging, exhilarating work!
All this change is both invigorating and exhausting, sometimes rewarding and sometimes unsettling. Growth is like that – a combination of embracing strengths, working through challenges and moving into the next stage. May you continue this time of transition patient with one another, remembering the past, honoring the present, and envisioning the future.
Faithfully, Rev. Helen 972-492-4940 ext. 106 Note: My regular office hours are 10 – 1, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday. Other times are available by appointment. My day off is Monday.
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FROM THE MINISTER
Mark your calendar! The Circle Coordinators are working with committee and event chairs to gather the initial budget requests for next year. If you have a program to offer, activity to plan or general interest and support for the financial life of the congregation, be sure to speak with one of them and mark your calendar for 7:00 p.m. on February 24 and March 3 and noon on March 15. In the three open sessions, the Circle Coordinators will build the budget for the 2015-2016 program year. On February 24, the expenses necessary to provide next year’s programs will be gathered. On March 3, the conversation will focus on income streams – pledge income, fundraising expectations, donations, rentals and any other revenue sources. And…as is always the case, we anticipate that there will be greater expenses than revenues (Sigh!). So…On March 15, we’ll gather to adjust, rethink, imagine, and otherwise work to reconcile the program needs with the available resources. Join in and be a part of this planning for next year. The Circle Coordinators are Marianna Seaton – Community Circle Lauren Daniell – Growth and Learning Circle Nancy Foreman – Social Responsibility Circle Peter Hendee – Stewardship Circle Peggy Gill – Worship Circle
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FROM THE MINISTER
A Little Huumor
Do you have any idea how many members of the Tate family belong to our congregation? There is old man Dic Tate who wants to run everything, while uncle Ro Tate tries to change everything. Their sister Agi Tate, stirs up plenty of trouble with help from her husband, Irri Tate. Whenever new projects are suggested, Hesi Tate and his wife Vege Tate want to wait until next year. Brother Facili Tate is quite helpful in church business. Cousins Cogi Tate and Medi Tate always think things over and lend a helpful steady hand. And, of course, there is the bad seed in the family, Ampu Tate who has cut himself off completely from the church community.
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What an exciting Sunday we experienced on January 11th! Together we celebrated the end of our indebtedness with the final payment this month on our mortgage! Through the consistent support of each one of its members, Horizon is now debt free! That support, your faith in our community and in each other, and in our denomination, is also carrying us through experiencing a different ministerial style in our worship services, and the restructuring of our operational organization which often brings confusion in the early stages. And now, together, even while engaging in the hard work of transitioning, we get to experience the excitement brought by the beginning of our search for Horizon’s next settled minister. We know now what to expect and what our part is in this search. The Unitarian Universalist Association’s Rev. Jim Eller, the Ministerial Settlement Representative, laid it all out for us Sunday: the process of how the members will take part in the selection, nomination and election of Horizon’s Ministerial
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Search Committee members; the responsibility we each will have in letting the committee know what we seek in our next minister; the trust in the process that we each will need to have faith in; the part we will play in meeting, talking with, listening to the candidate that emerges from that process, and then voting our conscience when the time comes. The excitement will build as the transition process continues, and Horizon is on the best path for us! The Transition Team members – JuLane, Patsy Roe, Beth Bargar, MC Meador, Acie Nobles, and Madira McKee – are wearing identifying team tags and are always available to talk with anyone who would like to ask questions or make comments. Recent conversations with members have exposed a need to clarify our role during the interim. The team was created by your Board to assist the interim minister during our transition, such as when we orchestrated the Cottage Conversations early in Rev. Carroll’s work here. The Transition Team does not devise new ways of doing worship service or of administrating operations or programs. It is our role, first, to assist Rev. Carroll as long-term leaders of Horizon, and, second, to be available to any member for conversation or clarification. Please know that we welcome the opportunity to talk with you. We are 1/4th of the way through our interim! At the Congregational Meeting on January 25th, the Transition Team will present a brief synopsis of where we are now in the five areas of transition work: History and Heritage, Leadership, Identity, Linkages (with the larger church and other organizations who share our values), and the very exciting New Ministry. Please make time to attend this important congregational gathering. It will help you take a more active, informed part in working toward our future.
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HORIZON NEWS
Horizon's 10th Annual Heifer International Alternative Gift Market our most successful ever! Our contributions totaled $12,071! To all who participated, thank you for being part of the solution to end hunger and poverty worldwide.
Looking forward… By Rev. Helen Carroll I’m recruiting Worship Associates for Sundays in 2015. Tempted, but unsure what’s required? Curious, but afraid of public speaking? Convinced and ready to sign-up. Please send an email (interimminister@horizonuu.org), drop a note in my box or give me a call (805-459-9696). Thank you for sharing in the worship life of the congregation.
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HORIZON NEWS MINISTERIAL SEARCH NEWS In the near future we will begin the search for our next settled Minister. The first step in that process is to elect a 7-member Search Committee. In order to do that a designated group of church leaders will call every voting member of Horizon to invite them to suggest individuals who meet the criteria for membership on this critical committee. After talking with as many members as we can reach, all suggested names will be collected to form a pool for further consideration. Your Board of Trustees and Nominating Committee will collaboratively select and prioritize several potential candidates from this pool and talk with them individually about their interest and ability to commit the time and energy to the task of screening potential ministers and ultimately recommending the best person for congregational consideration and approval. The guidelines for who should be considered for membership on the Ministerial Search Committee, as recommended by the UUA, are as follows: 1. One who has an overall perspective and commitment to the nature, purpose and activities of the Church. We are not seeking representatives of special interests or particular program areas, but people who are able to consider the needs and desires of the whole church, even if theyseem to differ from the wants of a particular group. 2. One who is committed to UU pluralism in every area: theology, life styles, social concerns, etc. 3. One who is patiently able to work for consensus among the Committee, rather than simple majority rule.
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HORIZON NEWS MINISTERIAL SEARCH NEWS 4. One with time to be thoroughly and continually involved. Members of the Committee may anticipate the need to devote a minimum of 20 hours monthly for the next year, in addition to the added time involved when the pre-candidating interviews begin. Our search for a Minister must be a top priority for each member of the Ministerial Search Committee. 5. One without rigid and specific requirements regarding a minister's state, sex, marital status, age, etc. 6. One who constantly remembers and is guided by the wishes of the Congregation as a whole. 7. One with a history of UU involvement. This does not necessarily mean long-term involvement, but it takes time for people to fully embrace our diversity. 8. One who clearly has the confidence of the Congregation. 9. One who can and will respect the confidentiality of the process, but who, nonetheless, is eager to keep the Congregation informed regarding the progress that is being made. 10. One who is cooperative with others, who promotes conciliatory discussions, who is not argumentative or overly zealous about their own preferences.
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HORIZON NEWS MINISTERIAL SEARCH NEWS Another way to express who should and who should not be considered for election to the Ministerial Search Committee is to describe the kind of person to avoid:
1. One with limited and high-intensity special interests; one who defines Horizon in narrow and exclusive terms. 2. One with rigid ideas of what is acceptable coupled with limited respect for differences (e.g., the militant Humanist, the intolerant Christian, the rabid Buddhist, etc.) 3. One who readily agrees to any request, but who is unable, either by temperament or time limitations, to follow through. 4. One who feels that "I (or the Committee) knows best," and urges to Ministerial Search Committee to ignore the expressed wishes of the Congregation. 5. One who has a genius for stroking the cat from tail to head just to see the sparks fly. 6. One who is actively disliked or distrusted by many people in the Congregation. 7. Members of the Board, the Transition Team, and Circle Coordinators may only serve on the Ministerial Search Committee if they resign their position. Paid staff of Horizon may not serve on the Committee. It is our hope that every member will consider these guidelines and give serious thought to whom among our church members might be excellent candidates. Thanks to each of you for your participation in this important beginning in finding our next settled minister!
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HORIZON NEWS FAQs re Policy-Based Governance, #2 By John D. Gill This is the second of our periodic questions and answers about policybased governance. Your Board is moving forward judiciously with developing policies. We invite questions and concerns about the process, either directly to a Board member or by emailing "president@horizonuu.org." Who will actually run our Church under Policy-Based Governance? The ultimate authority within the church continues to be held by the congregation, which elects the Board of Trustees. In turn, the Board has the responsibility for ensuring HUUC is fulfilling the mission and vision established by the congregation. The Board will establish broad goals, called "Ends," which reflect our commitment to our mission and vision. In Policy-Based Governance, the board delegates authority to a Chief of Staff to accomplish these ends. On a day-to-day basis the church will be run by the Senior Minister as Chief of Staff and a council of Circle Coordinators s/he selects as the most knowledgeable to fill these important roles. Key aspects of church operations are monitored on a regular basis, with required reporting to the Board of Trustees. The Minister will also continue to supervise our professional staff, including the Music Director, the Director of Lay Ministry, the Director of Lifespan Religious Education, our Accounting Clerk, and the Office Administrator. Are we asking too much of the Minister to function as the Chief of Staff? The decision to designate the Senior Minister to serve as Chief of Staff was made with much thought and consideration over the last few years,
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HORIZON NEWS FAQs re Policy-Based Governance, #2
input from denominational policy governance consultants, and discussion with other congregations using Policy Governance. The Senior Minister will delegate authority as needed to ministry leaders, committees, and other volunteers. Although delegated authority rests with the assigned person or team, the methods used to make decisions will generally be collaborative. When asked this very question recently, our Interim Minister expressed the belief that, instead of asking too much, the designation as Chief of Staff will actually allow her to be more efficient in fulfilling her many responsibilities. We, as the Board, agree with her. What is an example of a program working under Policy Based Governance? Existing ministries of our Church will continue as before, with the added support of their Circle Coordinator. Under the new structure, Circle Coordinators will support committees and ministry leaders in pursuing ideas to support stated outcomes. Working within the limits (policies) set by the Board, new projects can be initiated to bring us all new opportunities to engage within the church and the community without a lengthy delay to get on the agenda for a monthly board meeting. Or, if an individual or group has an idea for something new, they could approach the appropriate Circle Coordinator, who could quickly confirm whether it is in line with the policies, vision and mission of the church. And, if the member and/or committee can show sufficient resources and energy, a Circle Coordinator will work with the group to develop a strategy for next steps and include any other committees that would be affected or involved. Circle Coordinators are facilitators, charged to assist with planning, with developing the needed resources to support our ministries, and to assist the Chief of Staff and Board to monitor performance.
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GROWTH AND LEARNING CIRCLE by Lauren Daniell dlre@horizonuu.org blog: www.horizonuu.org/dre/ Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/horizonuu/
UU Summer Camp Information Session February 8th, 12-1pm
On February 8th after the service, there will be an information session about Camp U-Bar-U, a UU retreat center in the heart of the Texas Hill Country near Kerrville that offers summer camps for children and youth entering grades 3-12 in the fall (ages 8-19.) The session will be held at Horizon in Room #8 of the portable building from 12-1pm. Adult and teen representatives from the camp will be on hand to do a short presentation and answer questions. No need to RSVP. If you’d like more information, see the next article or email dlre@horizonuu.org .
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GROWTH AND LEARNING CIRCLE
UBarU Spring Break Camp March 9-12, 2015 Grades 3-8 (ages 8-14)
Spend Spring Break at UBarU! Worship * Fun & games * Field Trips * Arts and crafts Nature Education * Team building * Educational activities For years, children and youth have been enjoying summer camps at UBarU Camp and Conference Center. This year we are offering a new opportunity: spring break camp! We invite your child to join us in the beautiful Texas hill country to enjoy fellowship with other young Unitarian Universalists. Registration available at http://ubaru.org/camps/ Questions? Email us at campdirector@ubaru.org
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Camp UBarU Summer 2015
The Camp UBarU schedule is out! These camps are wonderful experiences that really help children and youth deepen their faith and make some incredible friendships. Programs include a ropes course, swimming, a labyrinth, hiking, pottery, worship, and many social activities. Brand new facilities for 2015. U-Bar-U: Dates for Summer 2015: Dates
Age Category
Age as of Sept 1, 2015
June 28 - July 4
Primary
8 – 11 yrs. old (rising
July 5-11
Junior
12 - 14 yrs. old (rising
Senior
14 – 18 yrs. old, 19 if just graduated from high school (rising 9th grade – just graduated from 12th grade)
July 12–18
For more information, please visit the Camp UBarU website: http://www.ubaru.org/home/Events/Summer-Camp
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Baskets needed in Children’s Religious Education Next fall the Kindergarten and First Grade classes are going to need a number of medium to large rectangular baskets for their classroom. If you have any at home that you’d like to donate to Horizon, Children’s religious education will gladly accept them!
A Hint of Spring...
Last fall, the children in the Pre-K class planted paperwhite narcissus bulbs in the playground. In the midst of all the recent cold weather, these brave little flowers popped up and bloomed, giving off their lovely sweet aroma and the promise of warm weather.
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Calendar of Events for Children and Youth
January 17th: North Texas Teacher Appreciation Dinner 6:30-9:00pm (registration has closed for this event)
January 20th (7-8pm Tuesday in Fellowship Hall) Parent meeting Kindergarten/1st Grade OWL January 25th: Lunch sponsored by Heifer Summer service learning trip participants February 8th: (12-1pm Portable #8) Information session about Camp UBarU in Kerrville, TX February 8th: PreK/Middle School Valentine “BUUddy Day� February 15th: Child dedication / Intergenerational service March 8th: Spring Break - no classes scheduled. Informal activities in Portable with Lauren Daniell and volunteers March 9-12th: Spring Break Camp at UBarU, Kerrville, TX March 15th: Spring Break -no classes scheduled. Informal activities in Portable with Lauren Daniell and volunteers .
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Adult Growth and Learning Spiritual Growth and Learning for Adults at Horizon is proud to announce two new courses coming this February and March. Lisa Krishnan will lead Not for Ourselves Alone, a course on finding common ground in a spiritually diverse community. As we progress along our own spiritual paths, how do we learn to be with others and support them on their journeys? How does an “I” become “we” at Horizon? Loraine McNeill from the Worship Circle offers, The Shared Pulpit: Sermon Writing for Lay People. In this course, participants will think deeply and write thoughtfully as they prepare pieces suitable for sharing with others. Please refer to the next two articles for more information about these courses. Signup sheets will be available in the Horizon lobby Sunday.
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Spirit in Community: Not for Ourselves Alone with Lisa Krishnan, MEd, LPC
and
professional coach
6 Wednesday: February 18, 25 / March 4, 18, 25 / April 1
Break out of your spiritual bubble! Life is experienced through relationship; this course asks us to shift the question from "Who am I?" to "Who are we?� As UU's, we tend to value self-reliant individualism and theological diversity. These are essential aspects of our religion; however, they can also be a path to isolation and are often an impediment to deeper spiritual conversations because we fear conflict. This course asks the questions: To whom and/or what are you committed. How are you accountable?
Who or what sustains you when you are discouraged about your life? Who tells you who you are? For more information or to enroll, contact dlre@horizonuu.org Lisa Krishnan has been a Horizon member since 2006 and is a professional coach. For over 16 years, Lisa has beenactively inspiring and empowering others to achieve a better life.
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The Shared Pulpit With Loraine McNeill 8 sessions – Mondays, 6:30-9:30pm (end times will vary) Beginning March 2
The Shared Pulpit is an eight-session experience based upon Erika Hewitt's work of the same title. This course is for everyone interested in deepening their spirituality and exploring their own personal lay ministry regardless of experience with writing or public speaking. It is designed to deepen connections and to help the layperson find his or her own voice as a lay leader. Ministry takes many forms and we will explore how are own experiences and stories can translate into a sermon presented for the growth and inspiration of others. (Participants are encouraged to share their work, but not obligated to speak to congregation.) Childcare available. Contact dlre@horizonuu.org for more information.
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Please join us this Friday night, January 16th in Fellowship Hall at Horizon at 7:00 pm for Games Night.
Bring your favorite games to play and a snack or drink to share (
the Sproat family is bringing baked potato soup, if anyone wants to bring accompaniments, please let us know )
We look forward to seeing you there ď Š New Feature: Childcare will provided upon request from 7:00 to 10:00pm * Please send reservations and cancellations to childcare@horizonuu.org
Please let me know if there is anyone you can suggest we add to the email notification list
*$10.00 per family (up to three children from the same household) with 48 hour notice and 24 hour notice of cancellation
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Social Responsibility News Share the Plate in January On January 18, Horizon will Share the Plate with the Texas Civil Rights Project. TCRP is a non-profit organization with the mission of promoting racial, social and economic justice through litigation, education and social services for low/moderate-income persons who are the least able to defend themselves.
The work of TCRP recognizes the inherent worth and dignity of every person, and it promotes justice, equality and compassion in human relations.
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SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY NEWS
Young Adult Spring Lobby Weekend 2015, March 14-17, 2015 Calling all young adults interested in climate justice! UUSC and the UU College of Social Justice are working together to pilot new skills-based trainings that combine learning and hands-on advocacy opportunities. Our first such venture will be a 4-day training in Washington, D.C. The Spring Lobby Weekend will feature time to explore our moral grounding for working on climate change as well as a "deep dive" look at current climate justice issues and the need for changes in federal policy. We'll offer lobbying training, and then Capitol Hill meetings with legislators and their staff. We're partnering with the Friends Committee on National Legislation and the Franciscan Action Network, so participants will have a chance to meet and work with young adults from various faith traditions. There will also be some optional fun free time activities. The event is open to anyone 18-35 years old. The registration fee is $50 (regular) and $25 (low-income). Housing costs will be approximately $35 per night. If a young adult would like financial assistance, we recommend that he or she seek sponsorship from a local UU congregation. The registration deadline is March 1, 2015. Space is limited, so please register early! Register online or contact Andrew Silva for further information.
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SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY NEWS
Singing on the Side of Love – Giving Life the Shape of Justice At the 2014 General Assembly, UU Congregations were challenged to bring singing back to our marches and protests. During the Civil Rights actions of the 60’s and 70’s, when UUs marched with others, we sang to lift the spirits of the marchers, to unify and bolster the people and to send the nonviolent message of justice and equality. Now we too often resort to the confrontational three-word chant that can easily alienate and anger. Earlier this year, Anita Mills, current President of North Texas Unitarian Universalist Congregations and member of the UU Church of Oak Cliff, led a group of UUs to form an informal choir to show up at protests and demonstrations to SING the message, to teach the old songs and bring forth some new ones. Singing evokes emotions in the singer, and in the listener. It’s a nonviolent way to share a message, to build bridges. Help us to build this choir. You don’t need to be a singer, just passionate about our values! Song sheets are provided, and usually a song leader, and there are opportunities at various of our churches to get together and become familiar with singing together. This is not intended to be a UU-only choir. Anyone who shares our vision is welcome to join and help bring singing back to our marching! For information on meetings and updates, go to www.CommonGroundStreetChoir.org We are planning to ride to Austin on January 20th, wearing our yellow Standing on the Side of Love t-shirts to sing in the capitol rotunda during the Texas Unitarian Universalist Social Justice Ministry legislative day of action. Email JuLane at julane70@outlook.com for information.
Come sing with us!
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SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY NEWS
The Texas UU Justice Ministry (TXUUJM) has invited us to come to Austin for a Texas UU Legislative Action Day on Tuesday, January 20th. We at Horizon will join members of the 13 North Texas churches on the bus chartered by North Texas UU Congregations (NTUUC).
To have a great time joining other UUs across Texas to promote our values with legislators during the kick-off weeks of the 2015 session
Inspiration and information Rev. Carlton Smith, a member of the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) Southern Region Life Staff will speak about how Texas issues connect to the larger UU picture Representative Donna Howard, a fellow UU, speaks to what to expect from the legislature and how we can best advocate our values. Advocating Receive and leave flyers with legislators about Unitarian Universalism and this year’s TXUUJM issues: Women’s Reproductive Rights, Medicaid Expansion and Economic Justice.
Leave for Austin in the wee hours of the morning January 20th Meet at the capitol to learn about advocating and talking with legislators 9 – 11 a.m.
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SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY NEWS Visit legislators (or sing with the Common Ground Street Choir in the rotunda) 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. Regroup 3:30 – 4:30 p.m. to debrief Head for home, sharing stories and singing our UU songs!
Be at the Texas UU Legislative Action Day! Sign up at http://www.evite.com/l/ NUd45kUWem by January 10 to get an official name tag. (You can still come without a nametag if you sign up later.) Join us on the North Texas UU bus! Sign up by Jan. 12th at http://www.ntuuc.org Find out more about this event! Contact JuLane (julane70@outlook.com) with questions and to be placed on an email list for more information as it rolls in Sing your values! Check out the Common Ground Street Choir, CommonGroundStreetChoir.org, for an alternative, peaceful, meaningful way to advocate for justice. The choir is going to Austin and everyone, musically inclined or not, who is passionate about UU values is invited to sing with us. Song sheets will be available and most songs are very familiar. Learn more! Texas UU Justice Ministry is building stronger Unitarian Universalist social justice ministries at the congregational level. Check us out at txuujm.org. Follow the Texas UU Justice Ministry! Find out what we’re doing to voice UU values at facebook.com/TXUUJM .
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SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY NEWS
“OUR SACRED SPRINGS" Southwest UU Women's Conference San Marcos, TX March 6-8, 2015
Featuring Dr. Rebecca Parker,
author, religious activist, and recently retired from 25 years serving as President of UU’s Starr King School for the Ministry in Berkley, CA
Guest Musician in concert: Terri Hendrix, award winning Texas songwriter, multi- instrumentalist, and classically trained vocalist. Registration Open: www.swuuw.org
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Social Responsibility News
Horizon members are asked to bring shelf stable items to church for Metrocrest Social Services which serves our local area. Each Sunday there will be an invitation to bring shelf-stable food stuffs to the front when the children come forward for the Children's Conversation. Please hand your donations to a young person to take forward! http://www.metrocrestsocialservices.org
Metrocrest serves Horizon’s neighbors in Carrollton, Farmers Branch, Addison, Coppell and the city of Dallas in Denton County.
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Social Responsibility News
MLK Day Carrollton Parade Information for Horizon Participants Date:
Saturday, Jan 17
Time:
10:00 am to 11:00 am (note below to assemble at 9:30)
Place:
Carrollton City Hall to Polk Middle School
· Carrollton City Hall is located at Josey Ln and E Jackson Rd. · Assemble on Jamestown Rd on the north side of the Carrollton City Hall, at 9:30 am. · We will be there with the Horizon UU Church banner. · You may park in any of the city or commercial lots in the area. · We will shuttle from the parade end at Polk Middle School back to the City Hall area.
· Total walking distance is about 1.5 miles
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Social Responsibility News WHY WE WALK IN THE DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. PARADE We walk in the MLK parade because it is a way to reawaken the community’s memory of Dr. King’s legacy.
We walk in the MLK parade because many people are too young to have been involved with his struggle to bring equality to all people and need to be reminded of what he did. We walk in the MLK parade because we are willing and able to make this gesture that we too stand for his principles and that we care about what Dr. King lived and died for. We walk in the MLK parade because racism still exists in our society and we want to let society know that we need to continue the fight to eliminate it. We walk in the MLK parade to honor the memory of Dr. King and hundreds of others who bravely walked into Montgomery where they were beaten and jailed for standing up for their rights. We walk in the MLK parade because we remember the civil rights marches where the public jeered and the police were not friendly. We walk because we are reminded of the progress we’ve made when we see the police on the streets, there to protect us instead of to beat us. We walk because we are reminded of the progress we’ve made when we see the people standing on the side of the road, there to cheer us instead of jeer us.
We walk because the MLK parade generates positive publicity in the media. The public sees images of people of all races walking together united in their ideals of the equality of all people. This is an image and message that we want burned into the collective mind of our society. It is a way to counteract the many negative messages and violent images we see of races not getting along with one another. Come join us!
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Social Responsibility News Horizon Trip to Heifer Ranch Global Village Program Who? Rising 7th through 10th graders and adult advisors (group of about 12 youth and about 3 advisors) Where? Heifer Ranch in Perryville, Arkansas, 350 miles from Carrollton What? Three nights at the ranch, including an overnight experience in the Global Village- Mozambique, Tibet and the Mississippi Delta region of the US. Participants are divided into family units with limited resources. As they tend gardens, work in the community and cook cultural meals, they become aware of the effects of poverty and hunger. Every evening the Horizon group will gather for a worship service, reflecting on the day’s lessons. When? June 7-10, 2015 (Sunday through Wednesday) Why? Horizon participant Douglas Burns described the Global Village experience as “some of the most powerful days of my life.” Participants will leave with an awareness of their role as a global citizen and with ideas on how to create change. Cost: $225/youth, which includes lodging, meals, programming and gas. Nonrefundable deposit of $100 due on Jan. 15. Scholarships will be available. Interested? Contact Katie at katiebarnes@swbell.net Sneak peek: http://www.edutopia.org/night-global-village
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FROM THE STEWARDSHIP CIRCLE Getting In Touch
Over the last two months, we have completed some planned projects to improve and/or repair various areas of the church facility. Fascia Repair and Gutters - In November, we completed the repair and painting of fascia and soffits around a portion of the building. New gutters were installed to replace the ones that needed to be taken down to do the repair. Carpets and Tile Cleaned - Perhaps you noticed that on December 30th, the carpets throughout the facility, including the portable, were professionally cleaned. The service also included steam cleaning the tile in the restrooms and Fellowship Hall. The next step is to seal the grout. Flashing Repaired - In a previous roof repair, the flashing was bent up and not nailed back down. When we had storms with very high winds, water was getting up under the flashing and causing water stains on the ceiling in the Sanctuary. Last week, repairs were made to the flashing. Next week, we will be getting bids for painting the water stains. Throughout the year, we will keep track of projects that need to be done and work to get them completed. Please let us know if there are areas that you notice that need attention. Looking forward to the New Year!
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AFTER CHURCH LUNCH BUNCH One way to get to know people from Horizon better is to join us after church for lunch. Everyone is welcome (even friends and family joining you after church). The restaurant will change each week. Check the welcome desk each week for the location. We meet most Sundays. Ask for the “Horizon” tables. It may take a few minutes following the service for lunch attendees to arrive but we’re coming!
Second Sunday Potluck: Everyone welcome! Horizon’s potlucks provide an opportunity to get to know others and be with our church community. We appreciate your bringing a bit more than needed for our families, allowing us to offer this hospitality to all members, visitors, and friends.
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HORIZON UU CALENDAR OF EVENTS Saturday, January 17 8:00 am - 10:00 am Men's Support Group - E3 - Library 9:30 am - 11:00 am Walk in MLK Parade - Other - Offsite 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm Scholarship Committee NTUUC Meeting - E3 - Library 5:00 pm - 9:00 pm Horizon Dinner - Other - Offsite 6:00 pm - 11:00 pm UDV - Church Rental - E3 - Library, FH - Fellowship Hall, KI - Kitch, RL - Lobby / Narthex, S5 - Class, S6 - Class Sunday, January 18 9:00 am - 10:15 am Adult Religious Explorations – John Myers – “Kindness” E3 - Library 9:00 am - 12:00 pm CAYRE - Child Care - S1 - Nursery 10:15 am - 12:00 pm Library Ministry - Open for Browsing - E3 - Library 10:30 am - 12:00 pm Main Worship - SH - Sanc. 11:45 am - 12:45 pm Sunday Sounding Board - SH - Sanctuary 11:45 am - 2:00 pm After Church Lunch Bunch -- All Are Welcome! - Other Offsite 12:00 pm - 2:30 pm Designing the Life You Will Love - E3 - Library 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm Wellspring 2014/15 - P2 - Couch 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm GALA Youth - S6 - Class Monday, January 19 Martin Luther King Day 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm Yoga - P1 - Lg 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm SMART Recovery - FH - Fellowship Hall 7:15 pm - 9:00 pm Wisdom Circle - E3 - Library
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HORIZON UU CALENDAR OF EVENTS Tuesday, January 20 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm K-1 OWL parent meeting - FH - Fellowship Hall 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm Buddhist Sangha - P1 - Lg, P2 - Couch Wednesday, January 21 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm Library Ministry - E3 - Library 5:45 pm - 7:00 pm Restorative Yoga - P1 - Lg 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm Prepare-Enrich class for couples - FH - Fellowship Hall 7:00 pm - 9:30 pm Board of Trustees - E3 - Library, KI - Kitch Thursday, January 22 6:00 pm - 7:15 pm Worship Arts Committee Meeting - MO - Minister's Office 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm Choir Practice - FH - Fellowship Hall Friday, January 23 10:00 am - 2:00 pm Candlelighters - FH - Fellowship Hall
Saturday, January 24 8:00 am - 10:00 am Men's Support Group - E3 - Library 9:00 am - 1:00 pm Horizon Players Rehearsal - SH - Sanc.
Visit: calendar.horizonuu.org for updates and events information
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SPECIAL GROUPS If you are considering attending one of these groups for the first time, it is a good idea to contact them via email for more information and to get an orientation of what to expect in your first visit! You can check the calendar at http://calendar.horizonuu.org/ Horizon Book Group: 4th Tuesdays 12p. (bookclub@horizonuu.org) The Horizon Book Group meets at 12 Noon on the fourth Tuesday of each month in the church Library. Every June and November the group decides on the books for the following six months. Bring a brown bag lunch and join in this fun group that is open to women and men. You’ll be able to share in an invigorating conversation on the session’s book. Current selections are found in the Library information niche in the lobby/narthex. For more info, you may contact bookclub@horizonuu.org. Buddhist Sangha: Tuesdays 7 PM - 9:00 PM. (buddhists@horizonuu.org ) Buddhist Sangha ("Sangha" is equivalent to a covenant group) is a weekly gathering that studies the Dharma (the teachings of Buddhism.) This is an ongoing exploration of the Four Noble Truths and the Eight Fold Path, the essential teachings of Buddhism. It is participatory and although consistency is encouraged, sessions can be attended on a drop in basis. We welcome anyone interested in a meditation practice. If you wish to come for an orientation, please arrive by 6:30. If you wish to view materials, e-mail the group at buddhists@horizonuu.org. CineMat CineMat meets on the 4th Saturday of the month. Time depends on movie selected. Open to everyone. This fun group meets to see a movie chosen by the group and then goes to a cof-
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SPECIAL GROUPS fee shop or restaurant to discuss the movie and socialize. cinemat@horizonuu.org. GAMERS: 3rd FRIDAY FUN AT HORIZON! (3rdfridaygames@horizonuu.org ) Come join us for adult level games on the 3rd Friday of every month. We meet in the Fellowship Hall at 7:00 p.m. Bring a snack or drink to share! Free childcare will provided upon request from 7:00 to 10:00pm (with 48 hour notice and 24 hour notice of cancellation). Please send reservations and cancellations to childcare@horizonuu.org. If you wish to get an email reminder of Games Night, please contact Beth Sproat at eblakehedges@earthlink.net Healthy Women 1st Thursdays, 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm. Women age 21 and over. This group provides support and encouragement for women in helping them achieve their personal goals of improving their fitness level, eating more nutritionally, losing weight and learning to reduce daily stress. This group also participates in an annual service project, in local walk events and raises money healthywomen@horizonuu.org Men’s Support Group Saturdays, 8:00 am - 10:00 am. Men age 18 and over. The Men’s Support Group provides men a supportive, safe environment for sharing personal challenges and concerns in a confidential setting. Many men were socialized to share only things external to them. The Men’s Support Group offers a sanctuary to share more about matters of the heart. Try us out and see if we fit your needs. mensgroup@horizonuu.org Second Tuesday Potluck 2nd Tuesday (most months) 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm in the Library. Everyone is
welcome! This group meets for food, fellowship, deepening friendships and occasional field trips. Topics of interest are presented to the group after eating. There is also a subgroup that views a movie and has dinner together on the 3rd Wednesday of the month. secondtuesday@horizonuu.org
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SPECIAL GROUPS Wisdom Circle Mondays 7:15 pm - 9:15 pm. Adults age 18 and over. Group meetings include a check-in and discussion of a weekly life issue topic selected by a group member. These have included appreciation, success and failure, fear, procrastination, staying optimistic in hard times, anger, healing, leaving a legacy, forgiveness, trust, and compassion. tuesdaywisdom@horizonuu.org Wings Parenting Mondays 9:30 am - 11:30 am (2 - 3 times a month). Parents of all ages. We welcome Moms and Dads to meet in the Horizon Church library. We have topics of interest not just about parenting UU children but personal and spiritual self-growth. Past topics have included: the philosophy of life according to Doctor Who, Karma, creating our "bucket list", our family trees, and what does it mean to be a UU parent. We also do a social outreach project once a year. Our schedule follows the school year and we break for school holidays and for the summer. During the school year, child care is provided. mondaywings@horizonuu.org The Women’s Friendship in Growth (WFIG) 2nd, 4th, and 5th Wednesdays, 7:30 - 9 pm, Horizon Library. Women age 18 and over. Join us for fun, connection, and growth. We share stories from our lives and discuss topics that help us get to know one another better. On 2nd Wednesdays we discuss “This I Believe” topics. On 4th Wednesdays we view and talk about a TED talk. On 5th Wednesdays we might do anything, but it’s always fun! We’d love to have you in our group! wfig@horizonuu.org Young Adults Contact: YoungAdults@horizonuu.org for more details.
1929 - 1968