Ponderings
Our newsletter, Ponderings, comes out at the beginning of each month. You can read the latest edition here. You will need the Adobe® Reader® to open the PDF file. You can download for free from adobe.com.
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UPCOMING EVENTS
June 2009
Coming Services
Sundays at 11:15 AM
June 7, 2009 Rev. Paul Beedle
Flower Communion
Our annual celebration of the beauty of diversity. Bring a cut flower to exchange.
June 14, 2009 Rev. Paul Beedle
The Skillful Spirit:
Unconditional Love and Support
How do we love unconditionally? What is the spiritual work that makes it possible?
June 21, 2009 Patti Withers, CRE
Our Theological House
The language of Systematic Theology can be used to describe the theological bases of Unitarianism and Universalism and explain how they manage to fit together into one religious denomination. We'll consider how those roots affect us today.
A Father's Day luncheon follows the service.
June 28, 2009 Don Levit
The Desire to Make a Difference: What Difference Does It Make?
It is natural to want to make a difference in the lives of others. Sometimes, our desires are fulfilled; sometimes, we fall short. It is in the falling short, when our expectations are dashed, that we try to speed up the process. Let's explore how we can remain whole while honoring the various parts of our lives.
Coming Adult Discussions
Sundays at 10:00 AM
June 7, 2009 Gerri Allen
Consensus Trance
What if we're all in a sort of trance, believing outrageous things and ignoring reality? As in "the emperor's new clothes," groups are sometimes led to a consensus, then ‘train' or coerce each other to see the world in that way and only in that way (hence trance). How can we wake up to reality and be mindful to what is really happening? "It is a fundamental mistake of man's to think that he is alive, when he has merely fallen asleep in life's waiting room," says Idries Shah ( Seeker After Truth , 1982).
June 14, 2009 Steve Nolin and Noel Zinn
Marijuana and the Drug War
Steve Nolin is a director and past president of the Houston chapter of NORML ( National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws ) and a past technical engineer for the award-winning KPFT program Cultural Baggage. He currently produces a TV show on Houston Mediasource called Drugs, Crime and Politics, which is sponsored by the Drug Policy Forum of Texas .
June 21, 2009 Garna Christian and Tony Veneruso
Father's Day
Share your stories and reminiscences: the loving, the funny, the good, the bad, and yes, the ugly stories too. Did you discover your father was a "person", and if so when? Gentlemen, did you ever glance in a mirror and see…your father? (We had a similar discussion on Mother's Day; it's only fair that we ask the same questions about fathers.)
June 28, 2009 Noel Zinn
H. D. Thoreau – A Wild and Crazy Guy?
A recent NY Times book review called our namesake and erstwhile environmental hermit, Henry David Thoreau , a “wild and crazy guy.” Could that be true? We'll judge for ourselves this morning as we read and discuss selected excerpts from Thoreau's writings on topics from civil disobedience to meditation to Transcendentalism.
See http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/19/books/review/Gessner-t.html?r=1 .
Faith Development Topics for June (all ages)
Patti Withers, DRE
6/7 – “Flower Communion” Intergenerational Service, no FD classes, nursery open
6/14, 21, 28 – Danette Schuh will share her knowledge about playing the violin. She will provide the necessary instruments.
GA Forum June 7
Joe Sullivan
A forum will be held on Sunday, June 7, following the worship ser-vice to discuss the main business on the agenda for the 2009 UUA General Assembly (GA):
1) the election for UUA President,
2) the proposed revision to the Principles & Purposes -- Article II of our UUA by-laws, and
3) the draft Statement of Conscience on Peacemaking .
Make an effort to be informed on the issues, and then come to share views and help guide our delegates in representing Thoreau at GA . Joe Sullivan and Michael Crouch will lead the forum. We anticipate that the forum will last 60-90 minutes.
Information about the main 2009 GA issues can be found at:
• www.uua.org/aboutus/governance/ elections ,
• www.uua.org/documents/gaoffice/agenda/bylaw_amendments.pdf ,
• www25.uua.org/coa/ , and
• www.uua.org/documents/gaoffice/agenda/statement_conscience.pdf .
Birthday Bash at Live Oak June 11
Janice Milo
Our next celebration of Thoreau members' and friends' birthdays will be on Thursday, June 11, at the Live Oak Grill, 12935 Dairy Ashford, starting at 5:45 PM. Everyone come!
Lunch Bunch June 14
Penny Sullivan
For Sunday's Lunch Bunch on June 14, all are invited to Pier 21. The address is near Thoreau, at 12106 Murphy Road (west side of Murphy between Airport and Hwy 59). Most of the items on their menu are seafood; they also have pasta and chicken, soups and salads. We have the back seating area reserved, and they will provide separate checks if you ask when ordering. Check out their good reviews at www.b4-u-eat.com.
Pride Parade Help Needed for June 27
Anyone interested in marching with the UU group at the June 27 Pride Parade or helping with the booth at the Pride Festival, please contact Northwood UU's Sharon Lockridge at sharon_scherer@yahoo.com or 936-755-1475 . The festival starts at 11:00 AM and booth sign-up is for one hour increments. The parade starts at 8:45 PM .
Let's Go Camping
Cassey Crouch
For more than 30 years, each spring and fall, Bay Area UU has had a church campout at a state park. Thoreau has been invited for the September 27 weekend campout.
An organizer reserves the sites (one site usually serves 1-3 families). Each site has a water spigot, electrical outlet, fire pit and picnic table. Last time, site fees worked out to $8/adult for the weekend, plus a small entrance fee. Most people camp in tents; some bring RVs. People bring their own food for the weekend and cook on their propane stoves. There is a joint potluck supper on Saturday night. Bathrooms situated near the campsites have flush toilets and hot showers.
People bring firewood or purchase it from the park store. The state parks say 'no open display of alcohol,' meaning wine in cups is OK, but bottles stay in bags. There are no planned, organized activities, but people bike, hike, fish, boat, swim, hang out, drink lots of coffee, and talk.
Let's get our Thoreau campers organized and get to know some of our fellow UUs. Contact Cassey Crouch at casseyster@gmail.com if you are interested.
Regular Meetings and Events
Visitors to meetings are always welcome. Contact persons listed will be happy to answer any questions.
The Board Meeting is held at 7:00 on the third Wednesday, June 17. All are welcome. Alicia Zubay almaq54@yahoo.com
The Book Discussion Group meets on dates decided by the group, at 7:30 at the homes of members. J. Gandee john@mrfortbend.com
The CRS (Can't Remember ‘Stuff') Group meets on the third Friday, June 19, at 6:30 . Janice Milo janicemilo@msn.com
The Choir practices on Sundays and other dates by announcement.
Suzannemarion@comcast.net
The Committee on Ministry meets monthly on varying dates.
The Ethnic Dining group will meet on Saturday June 20 at 6:30 at Aga's. Mike McInerney mkmci@swbell.net
The Faith Development Committee meets on the second Wednesday, June 10, at 7:00 . Donna Dauria-Burleigh ddonnadb@comcast.net
The Finance Committee meets on the second Wednesday, June 10, at 7:00 . Mary Mijal numerate@earth link.net
The Tribal Gypsy Dance Group will be on hiatus for the summer. Donna Dauria-Burleigh ddonnadb@aol.com
The Membership Committee meets on the first Wednesdays, June 3 and July 1, at 6:00 . Cassey Crouch casseyster@gmail.com
The Men's Group meets on the first Thursday, June 4, at 7:00 . Location will vary. James Hampton jjhampton@windstream.net The Program Council meets on the first Wednesdays, June 3 and July 1, at 7:00 . Michael Crouch michael.crouch46@gmail.comThe Social Action Committee meets on an as-needed basis. Valerie Tolman davaltolman@gmail.com
The Women's Book Club will meet on the second Monday, June 8, at 7:00 at the home of Darlene Thompson. Janice Milo janicemilo@msn.com
The Worship Committee will meet at a time to be announced. Nancy Warren njwphd@gmail.com
Social Action Calendar
Val Tolman
The Social Action Committee met in August and planned volunteer and community outreach opportunities for the next year. Take some time to look over the proposed calendar of activities below and see which look the most interesting to you and you might like to get involved with. As we get closer to each event, we will provide more information, but if you have any questions now or if you see something that really speaks to you and you want to offer to get more involved, please feel free to talk to any member of the committee: Valerie Tolman, Cassey Crouch, John Speer, Joanne Speer, Joanie Havlik, Janice Milo, and Johanna DeYoung.
SWUUSI Camp August 2-7
SWUUSI is an annual week-long, multi-generational summer camp (SWUUSI is the Southwest UU district Summer Institute). The camp will be held August 2-7. In years past, it has been held at Lake Texoma Resort and at Lake Murray Resort. This year it's moving to the Western Hills Guest Ranch near Tahlequah , OK . This year's theme is “The Way to Peace is Through Us.” SWUUSI has programming for children, youth, young adults, and adults. Every day offers a multitude of workshops, worships, events, and community time. Visit www.swuuc.org/swuusi/ for more information.