FOCUS March 2016 Unitarian Universalist Church of Delaware County

Transcription

1 FOCUS Our Mission Is to: IGNITE personal growth; ENGAGE in loving community; SERVE with integrity From the Minister Coldilocks Celebrates Her 35 th Birthday Coldilocks celebrates her thirty-fifth birthday at the Philadelphia Zoo, and we debate the relative merits of a long life in captivity or a shorter one in the wild, not that she ever had a choice. (Continued on page 2) March Services At 9:15 and 11:15 a.m., except where noted. churchoffice@uucdc.org Sunday Services, Nursery Care 9:15 & 11:15 a.m. Sept.-May Church School (Preschool-8th) 9:15 a.m. Sept.-June This month s spiritual theme is Liberation. March 6 Rev. Alison Cornish March 13 Commitment Sunday, Rev. Peter (one service, at 10 a.m.). NOTE: Daylight Saving Time begins, set your clocks one hour ahead before bedtime March 12. March 20 Cindy Terlazzo March 27 Rev. Peter 145 W. Rose Tree Road Media, PA (610) The is a Welcoming Congregation that seeks to celebrate and support the lives, relationships and contributions of its lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender members and friends. We affirm and promote full participation of everyone in the life of our congregation and community.

2 Page 2 From the Minister (Continued from page 1) They feed her pumpkins filled with peanuts, and an ice cake with granola and peanut butter icing. What could be better? Except, when you think about it, for a polar bear, some fresh-caught seal, savored on an ice floe during an endless arctic summer day. I wonder if her bear-self longs for what she s lost? Vast expanses of tundra, endless room to roam. Months-long darkness and bedding down in winter dens. The smell of spring, and friends, and mates. Blessed solitude, away from grandparents with wide-eyed toddlers on their shoulders, pointing. Always pointing. Or is she content in her hand-fed indolence? Living like a lottery winner, pampered, with a staff, a private pool, and a health plan that puts a Senator s to shame. When did she turn the corner, that she lost her bear-ness to where it could not be regained? When she had been held so long that her release would mean her certain death? How easy it is to forget how freedom feels, and to lose the memory of what it s like to be who we were born to be. Peter

3 Page 3 Piece by Piece Board Perspectives... 4 Coyote Joe Music Out LOUD Concert March Board Notes... 5 Songwriter Workshop... 5 Social Justice Summit Success... 6 Going to General Assembly?... 6 Congregational Meeting Highlights... 7 Sabbatical Update... 7 Five to Thrive! Goes Live... 8 Communication Corps... 8 Chili, Chocolate, Home Brew Results Regional Reproductive Justice Retreat for Diverse UU Professionals Help Improve Religious Education Interim RE Director and Search for Future YUUCKI News In the Interim, Session Highlights Twisted Easter Egg Hunt Caring Corner UU World Spotlight on UUCDC % Net Growth Meet New Members Dinosaurs Care for Children Buddy Coordinator Needed Adult Faith Library UUPLAN Wages, Democracy Spring & Reproductive Justice Share the Plate Prepare for Democracy Spring Chester Eastside Afterschool March Calendar FOCUS INFO: Editors: Neil Goldstein & Natalie Silver Production: Rina Jurceka The deadline for the April Focus is 5 p.m. March. 21. Please send your text via to: Focus@uucdc.org. Who s Who Board of Trustees Bill Clinton, President Beckham Bright, Vice President Marge Caton Chris Hagendorf Russ Lorraine Tom Rendulich Staff Rev. Peter A. Friedrichs, Minister Bob Rowland, Music Director Erica Shadowsong, Interim Director of Lifespan Religious Education Rina Jurceka, Administrator Megan Grissom, Administrative Assistant Jack Schaffer, Sexton Joy Thiessen, Accompanist Katie Klem, Jasmine Masters, Sarah Rowland Child Care Denise Leo Bookkeeper Executive Team Rebecca Cooke Rev. Peter Friedrichs Joan Karasick Jody Malloy

4 Page 4 Board Perspectives Visioning, Planning and Acting The month of February was an exciting month for our church. Things are moving. It started with our vision of who we want to become. The board adopted a new vision for UUCDC: We act boldly every day to nurture spirits, enrich lives and strive for justice. To put our new vision into practice, we are now developing end statements that will give direction to the Executive Team to fulfill our vision. I am excited about actions we are taking to strengthen key areas of our community: Social Justice Reorganization On Feb. 20, we hosted a social justice reorganization session where more than 50 members gathered to learn about all of our current justice activities and to clarify the impact that we hope to have both within our church community and in the greater Delaware County area. We met that goal. The group developed and proposed a new organizational structure that allows us to be more effective in our striving for justice. See more on page 6. Lifespan Religious Education Program The very next day, 20 members met to learn about the observations and experience of Erica Shadowsong, our Interim Director of Lifespan Religious Education. The discussion was candid and insightful about where we are strong and where we have the opportunity to develop further. We also learned about the search process Bill Clinton, Board President that we will go through next year to find a permanent Director of Religious Education. I am reminded about how critical our RE program is for our whole church community and how important it is for all members to teach it, not just the parents of children in the program. Five to Thrive The preparation for our annual pledge drive that kicks off on March 13 has been fun for me. I look forward to the single service on March 13 that will include the whole community and serve as a celebration of who we are and what we aspire to become as a religious community that seeks to act boldly every day (see page 8. Democracy Spring Plans for the April 2 to 16 action to demand that Congress take immediate action to end the corruption of big money in politics are underway. We are securing places to house marchers on the first night of their march from Philly to Washington, DC. There will be plenty of opportunities to participate in any part of the two-week action as well as to help with hosting at our church and other places of worship in the area. This is UUCDC reaching out to provide leadership in getting money out of politics. Don t hold back, become a part of this justice opportunity. See page 16. I am grateful to be part of this justice-seeking community. Bill Interweave LGBTQIA and Friends Music OUT Loud Concerts Presents Coyote Joe Stevens on March 5 On Saturday, March 5, at 7:30 p.m., at UUCDC, come join Interweave LGBTQIA and Friends Music OUT Loud Concerts for Coyote Joe Stevens, a singer/songwriter and guitar, upright bass and banjo player. Joe is a third-generation professional musician in a long line of restless westward moving souls. Joe s career began in 2006 with the alt-americana group Coyote Grace, continuing on to five albums and tours with the Indigo Girls, Melissa Ferrick and Girlyman. He s shared stages with Chris Pureka, Greensky Bluegrass, Reverend Payton's Big Damn Band and legends such as Cris Williamson and Lowen and Navarro. The Roadshow Relics will open the show. Tickets are $15 at the door or $10 in advance online: Students are $10 and children are free.

5 Page 5 Board Notes: February Meeting Highlights of the February Board of Trustees monthly meeting: Bruce Zangwill and Jean Lenke made a short presentation and request for the Board to support a strong LBGTQ Welcoming Congregation continuation with an emphasis around gender fluidity and nonbinary gender expression. There will be work on this in the coming months, including a Sunday service. The Board supports the effort and awaits further action. The Executive Team report indicated healthy financial conditions based on less spending than budgeted, though pledge payments are less than expected. A Search Committee will be formed in the near future to begin the search process for a new Director of Lifespan Religious Education. The Executive Team will be taking applications soon for this important committee. The Five to Thrive campaign will kick off March 13 with a Commitment Sunday single multigenerational service. (see p. 8-9). Sabbatical planning, coordinated by Marylin Huff, is well underway. Rev. Peter will be on sabbatical from October to December Services are almost completely covered, and ministerial coverage will be primarily supplied by Rev. Libby Smith (see p. 7). The Board discussed the proposed by-laws revisions that are continuing between Growth Through Service (GTS) and the Nominating Committee. These revisions will be presented at the May Congregational Meeting. Democracy Spring support, as approved by the congregation in January, is being coordinated by Bill Clinton and others. The campaign starts April 2. More information will be available soon (see p. 6). The Joseph Priestley District Annual Assembly will be held April 8 and 9 in York, PA. There will be a discussion and vote to move to a regional structure. The Board began work on Ends Statements to provide guidance to the Executive Team based on our Mission and Vision Statement approvals. Chris Hagendorf, Tom Rendulich and Marge Caton will continue to focus on this with a five-year outlook. Finally, the Board is grateful to the following individuals and groups who have gone above and beyond in recent weeks: Donald Ashbrook and Skip Seelaus, for helping to set up for the Congregational Meeting, and to Bruce Wyman for serving as the Parliamentarian. To Peter Bretz, for dropping everything to solve our server problem. Marge Caton For the Board Join Coyote Joe Stevens For a Songwriters Workshop After the March 5 concert, come to our songwriters workshop here with Coyote Joe Stevens on Sunday afternoon (March 6). Participants will write on-the-spot songs and leave with a recording of their work, jarring loose the notions that songwriting is difficult or inaccessible. Students can sing their songs or have someone else sing them or accompany them. This is a three-hour course. No musical training is necessary, just humor and guts. More advanced students can have the opportunity to look deeper into the mechanisms of form, dynamics and other aspects of songwriting. Everyone is welcome! An Interweave Brunch is included with workshop, at 12:30 p.m. The workshop costs $50. Jean Lenke

6 Page 6 Social Justice Summit Works on a New Framework On Saturday, Feb 20, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., 50 church members filled Fellowship Hall, ready to build the future of social justice work at our church. The committee that planned and executed the summit included: Dan Alamia, Fran Battista, Beckham Bright, Emily Cairncross, Bill Clinton, Laurie Cooke, Erin Esposito, Rev. Peter Freidrichs, Emily Glowacki, Marylin Huff, Cole Jurceka, Joan Karasick, Summer Leary, Mardys Leeper, Melissa Nedza and Bruce Zangwill. The summit moved back and forth dynamically from presentations by some members of the planning committee to small-group activities, rounded out by discussions among the entire group. Attendees learned about Richard S. Gilbert s framework for the five types of social action, and then in small groups, they shared stories of meaningful experiences that brought them to justice work. After hearing a presentation on the current picture of social justice organization and activities here, participants returned to small group discussions to imagine the transformed social justice ministry that they wished to see. Discussion questions included: How can we have the greatest impact with our justice work? What needs to change to get us where we want to be? What kind of social justice ministry would we want to have that would be personally fulfilling? After reporting their thoughts and discussing them in a large group, attendees learned about organizational models of justice work successfully used by Unitarian Universalist congregations that are similar to ours in size. The small groups then re-formed to discuss and sketch out an effective organizational model. After each small group presented its proposals, all those assembled moved toward a general consensus on a new, preliminary model for the church. Six members in attendance Julie Chuplis, Peter Cooke, Emily Glowacki, Kate Gordon, Sue Redfern and Bruce Zangwill agreed to form a working group to complete this framework in detail. More information, including a survey, will be coming out to all church members soon, and a full proposal will be presented for approval at the May Congregational Meeting. Dan Alamia Consider Attending June s General Assembly in Columbus, OH There is a wealth of Unitarian Universalism outside the walls of 145 West Rose Tree Road. What we have here is fabulous, and yet, there is more lots more. Much of it happens at the Unitarian Universalist Association s annual gathering: General Assembly. General Assembly occurs every year in late June. This year it is within driving distance, in Columbus, OH, from June 22 through 26. Attendees will worship, witness, learn, connect and make policy for the association through the democratic process. While it is not inexpensive to attend, there are scholarships available, and volunteering can offset some of the cost. If you are interested in attending, our church has veteran General Assembly participants who can help first-timers manage the various deadlines and make this a wonderful experience. If you are considering going (something this church s leadership highly recommends, if possible), we d like to know that. There s planning to be done! Please contact Rina Jurceka if you would like to go or if you have questions. Rina Jurceka

7 Page 7 Election and Democracy Spring Highlighted Jan. 31 Meeting Church members elected Board of Trustees leaders and endorsed the Democracy Spring campaign at Congregational Meeting on Jan. 31. They also voted in favor of four nominees for the single Congregational Study/Action Issue to be adopted at the denomination s General Assembly in June (see p. 6). Bill Clinton was re-elected Board President for a second one-year term. Joe Miller was chosen as Vice President. Their terms will begin after the congregation s May 22 meeting. At the recommendation of the church s Move to Amend for Free and Fair Democracy Committee and the Board, the congregation voted to endorse the national Democracy Spring campaign ( and to participate as fully as possible (see p. 16). The two-week campaign in early April will demand that Congress immediately act to end the corruption of big money in politics and ensure free and fair elections in which every American has an equal voice. As a result of the vote, the church will donate $250 to the campaign and offer $250 to help defray the costs of up to two members who want to participate in Washington, D.C., but cannot otherwise afford the expenses. Congregational Study/Action Issues (CSAIs) are topics selected by Unitarian Universalist member congregations for four years of study, reflection and action. Issues that have been selected in the past include Escalating Inequality and Reproductive Justice. The members voted in favor of these issue options for cycle: A National Conversation on Race Climate Change and Environmental Justice The Corruption of Our Democracy Ending Gun Violence in America In other meeting highlights: Jody Malloy reported that church finances are in stable shape and that the Property Committee is looking into air conditioning for the Sanctuary. Marge Caton read out the church s new Vision Statement, recently adopted by the Board: We act boldly every day to nurture spirits, enrich lives and strive for justice. Cole Jurceka talked about the development of the church s new Black Lives Matter group ( blacklivesmatter.uucdc.org/). Last, but of course not least, the members cheered our Bill Clinton in recognition of his 70th birthday. Neil Goldstein Fall Sabbatical Updates Rev. Peter will be taking a three-month sabbatical this fall from Oct. 1, through the end of the calendar year. A team is being formed to make sure everything runs smoothly in his absence. So far, the team includes Mark Bernstein, Bill Clinton, Janice Pessagno and Marylin Huff. With the March pledge drive upon us, one reasonable question is: What is the budget impact of his absence? Our main expenses will result from adding staff time (if we don t find enough volunteers to help out), paying honoraria and travel expenses for ministers to fill the pulpit, and meeting pastoral care needs. The anticipated budgetary impact is less than $3,000. Marylin Huff

8 Page 8 Five to Thrive! Goes Live March 13 marks the return of Five to Thrive!, our successful annual pledge drive alternative. Five to Thrive! asks each household in the church to commit 5 percent of its income to the church. We are also asking YOU to take ownership of your financial commitment so that volunteers and the Executive Team don t have to take time away from furthering our mission to chase pledges as we ve done in the past. Each household has been asked to commit 5 percent of its gross income next church year. Last year, this successful approach let us accomplish three goals: It funded our operating costs; It let us give away more of our Sunday plate cash; and It allowed us to start a seed capital fund for outreach projects. Because we as a congregation committed to Five to Thrive! last year, we were able to direct funds to the Young Families program for child care. With over 30 adults in their Soul Matters groups, they were able to handle child care for 20 plus children. The runaway success of the Young Families Soul Matters program is amazing and worth supporting, just like other new and successful programs developed over the last year. That s why we need every member to commit to Five to Thrive! to ensure that we keep our financial house in order and can support the needs of our dynamic congregation. We also will be able to make significant contributions to the well-being of others in our community. We ask that you make your commitment to the campaign between Sunday, March 13, and Sunday, March 20. You can deliver your Commitment Card at one of the worship services, you can make your commitment via the church website at or you can use the form on p. 9. Thank you for contributing to the success of Five to Thrive! this year. Maggie Juliano Communications Corps to Seek Your Opinions At the Jan. 19 quarterly meeting of the Communications Corps, Mark Bernstein and his team agreed to convene focus groups in the spring to take the pulse of the congregation around communication in general and the vehicles we are using to get the word out. Mark is drafting four questions for the focus groups. The corps, which wants as many congregation members as possible to participate, will decide on an implementation plan at its April 24 meeting.

9 Page 9 Name(s): YES! I/we are joyfully committing to 5% to see our congregation THRIVE! SOON! I/we are joyfully committing to 5% in the next three years to see our congregation THRIVE! My/our total annual commitment for the July 2016-June 2017 year is: $. Signature(s): Bring this form, Sunday March 13, for FIVE TO THRIVE! or on Sunday, March 20, or drop it in the mail. You can pledge online at Please commit promptly. It takes a lot of effort and volunteer hours to call and chase people for their commitment. Let s use that time instead to further our congregation s mission and programming. (Remember: One service only March a.m. and Daylight Saving Time!)

10 Page 10 Chili, Chocolate and Home Brew Challenge Raises $2,500 Before doors opened on Jan. 30, people were in line buying tickets for this year s Chili, Chocolate and Home Brew Challenge. People chose from 18 kinds of chilies, 10 chocolate desserts, and 7 home brews, and by the end of the evening, most entrants contributions were finished. Thanks to your support, we raised $2,500! Our winners were: Craig Harris for chocolate with his scrumptious God, That s Good, Mark Yerger with his Goonesville Campin Chili and Kyle Yerger for his home brew, Espresso Oat Style. In the junior chocolate category, congrats go to Isabel Nagle, who won for her delicious Incredible Chocolate Cake. Judges came from a variety of backgrounds to help UU Cluster Meeting and Reproductive Justice Session on March 19 in Phila. evaluate the various entries and several Media businesses donated wonderful door prizes. YUUCKI and OWL youth provided support during the evening. The Chili, Chocolate, and Home Brew Committee wants to thank all those people who pitched in and generously donated their time and skills. Thanks also to the cornbread bakers and salad makers and all those grand contestants who make the evening possible. A special thanks to Craig Bartlett, Rev. Peter, and Derrick and Owen Schweitzer, who so lovingly did what they were asked to do! Put next year s date on your calendar: Jan. 21, Penny Bartlett, Kelli Schweitzer, Irene Friedrichs, Janet Boosz and Jane Seelaus The Greater Philly Unitarian Universalist Cluster ( which represents 14 congregations, will have its next meeting followed by a Reproductive Justice workshop on March 19 at the Unitarian Society of Germantown in Philadelphia. All are welcome to either or both. The day starts at 9 with a Meet and Greet. The meeting begins at 9:30, followed by a light lunch at noon. At 1, the workshop introduces the principles of Reproductive Justice as endorsed by UUPLAN (the Unitarian Universalist Pennsylvania Legislative Advocacy Network) and shows participants simple and effective ways to communicate with elected officials on a variety of issues, not solely reproductive justice. Check out the Cluster website for more details and get connected with your fellow UUs. A Retreat for Diverse UU Professionals The denomination s Diversity of Ministry Team will hold its annual retreat at the Hilton Penn s Landing in Philadelphia from March 30 to April 2. Finding Our Way Home 2016 is for ministers, ministerial candidates, directors of religious education, directors of music and administrators who identify as being of African Descent, Caribbean, Native/American Indian, Asian and Pacific Islander, Latina/o and Hispanic, Middle Eastern/Arab, Multiracial and Multiethnic Unitarian Universalists. The team says, We gather to give each other the gifts of interconnectedness, community building, spiritual sustenance, and mutual support. We also give each other gifts of personal and professional development.

11 Page 11 Lifespan Religious Education You Can Help Improve This Program Happy Spring! We are slightly more than halfway through my first church year with you as Interim Director of Lifespan Religious Education, and from here on, we ll have many more conversations about what I ve learned and observed. And you ll hear from Religious Education leadership on opportunities to participate. In February, the minister, RE leadership, a few other church leaders and I, joined Pat Infante of the denomination s Central East Regional Group staff in an in-depth conversation. We talked about where we were in the interim process and what would happen from there (see p. 12). We also discussed the searchcommittee process for the permanent Director of Lifespan Religious Education, what the timeline might look like, and what work we might do in the rest of my time here. The truth is, we can accomplish only a few things in this interim period. We will have an opportunity to focus on aspects of the RE program at all stages of life in specific areas where we think there is the most need and the strongest chance of improving health. I say improving. There are a lot of wonderful Religious Education Interim Director And Search Committee Update I am delighted to report that Erica Shadowsong, our Interim Director of Religious Education (DRE), has accepted my offer to continue her work with us through June 2017! Erica was hired with a one-year contract with an option for a second year, and I'm thrilled to have her continue her interim work with us. I am also delighted to report that Kelli Schweitzer has accepted my invitation to serve as the Chair of the soon-to-be-formed DRE Search Committee. For those who are wondering about the process for hiring a long-term DRE to follow this interim period, here's a rough outline of the process: Spring 2016 Applications for Search Committee membership will be solicited and reviewed by Rev. Peter and Kelli. The goal is to have the Search Committee assembled by May. Please keep your eye out for invitations to apply to serve on the Committee. Erica Shadowsong, Interim Director of Lifespan Religious Education things about the religious education experience and program here, and that is by no means lip service. But there are some areas of need. Specifically in the children s programs, there is a need to breathe new life into our rich curriculum. We can make it easier to volunteer with the children, and more important, we can make it even more enjoyable and memorable to the students. So one thing you need to ask yourselves is: What do you want children and youth to have learned or experienced at each stage of growth? The same question can be asked about adult education. We have experienced growth particularly with parents of young children we will need to leverage that growth by meeting the needs. This is the job of the entire congregation. Please keep your eyes open and ears to the ground for the many opportunities to contribute to this critical conversation. I look forward to more visioning conversations with all of you, and I can t wait to see what you come up with! August 2016 Search Committee holds a retreat. Fall 2016 Search Committee creates job description for DRE, with input from the congregation, and creates recruitment strategy and materials. Winter 2017 Search Committee recruits and reviews applications for DRE. Spring 2017 Search Committee makes recommendation to Rev. Peter for hiring the DRE. August 2017 New DRE begins work. Erica Please drop me a note if you have any questions about the timeline. Details will emerge as we move forward in the process, and the Search Committee will keep the congregation informed of its progress. Rev. Peter

12 Page 12 What s Up With The YUUCKIs On April the YUUCKIs will host MagiCON, this year s version of the annual LepreCON youth conference. MagiCon will be magic-themed, including mythological elements. In other news of the 10th-through-12th-grade Young Unitarian Universalists Combining Knowledge and Interest, the group had a successful soup lunch on Feb. 21. They thank the congregation for taking part. The group had a Valentine s Day potluck and game night that really brought the members together. They will probably travel to the denomination s General Assembly as a group in June, but logistics are undecided. Chloe Cairncross First In the Interim Session Held to Discuss Religious Education On Sunday, Feb. 21, Pat Infante, a representative of the denomination s Central East Regional Group, led the first of many planned visioning sessions on the future of Religious Education. In attendance were Rev. Peter; Erica Shadowsong, Interim Director of Lifespan Religious Education (DRE); and 11 lay leaders. Volunteer members from many groups were represented at the visioning session, including members from the Executive Team, the Board of Trustees, the RE Council, RE educators, Growth Through Service, Justice and Community Outreach, Young Families, Dinosaurs Alive, Spiritual Growth and Enrichment and the Quilting group. Clearly, many of our lay leaders wear many hats, as does our Interim DRE. Erica is not here to just run the RE program. She has joined us to build upon the strong foundation that has been laid by our past leaders and to help us realize our vision for a better program. Conversations at the session focused on such topics as articulating a vision for Religious Education ministry, discussing the strengths and challenges our congregation faces, evaluating where our programs are now, setting priorities for the Interim DRE to focus on and beginning the search for a settled DRE. Once the discussion neared the three-and-a-halfhour mark, the group realized there was much more to talk about and planned for a smaller group to reconvene in the near future to continue this important work. The group consensus was that we would like to share more information about what is happening behind the scenes with the congregation at large, as Lifespan Religious Education is not solely reserved for the children, but for all attendees of our church. It occurs in one form or another throughout the week, not just on Sunday mornings. Education is for everyone and it doesn t happen by chance. There are a lot of people paid staff and volunteers committing their time and energy to improving programming and creating an inviting and spiritually nurturing environment. Improved programming benefits not only new and existing members but provides the congregation a means to recruit and hire a new DRE. Please stay tuned for more information on this process and how you can help. Join Our Easter Egg Hunt With a Twist! Sue Beadle On behalf of the RE Council It's time to plan our annual Easter Egg Hunt, and the Religious Education Council needs your help! Instead of hunting for eggs, each year the children/ youth hunt for canned goods. We need volunteers to monitor donations, set up Easter morning, count cans, make treat bags, collect found cans and distribute treat bags and aid the regular volunteers who take the food to the Media Food Bank each week. Also, we need your donations! On Easter morning, March 27, the cans are hidden by older youth on the church property. The children turn in their found cans for a small treat bag. In past years, the hunt has given about 400 food items to the Media Food Bank. Remember to deposit donations in the bin marked for Easter, as not to confuse them with the weekly offerings for the Media Food Bank. Please help make the Easter Canned Goods Hunt a huge success again this year! Kelli Schweitzer

13 Page 13 Congregational Care Ministry Team Caring Corner We re Featured in Spring s UU World In fall 2015, Rev. Peter announced that our church had received one of four Breakthrough Congregation awards given by the Unitarian Universalist Association. Because of this distinction, we are featured in the Spring 2016 issue of UU World, our denomination s quarterly magazine. Check out page 8 of the new issue or use this link, -delaware, to read An Upward Spiral by Tina Porter, who interviewed several church members and attended a worship service here this fall. You can also view photos of our congregation. Porter highlights our Growth Through Service program, the Young Families group, our Five to Thrive! campaign and the UU101 class as examples of why we re a Breakthrough Congregation.

14 Page 14 Member Engagement Ministry With 271 Members, We Show 7% Net Growth The church recently certified that we have 271 members, a 7% net growth from last year. Graduates of Rev. Peter s UU101 course scheduled for April will be eligible to sign the membership book after completion of the free, four-session course. It s not too early to sign up online or by calling the office at Anyone who has taken the UU101 course may sign the book at any time just ask in the church office. Meet More New Members Please check out the photos of the fall 2015 new members on the wall outside the McClennen Lounge and take the opportunity to offer a warm welcome. Thanks to new members who are sharing their stories in this third set of biographies. Louise Intindoli I have considered myself a UU since 1988 when I attended the Staten Island Unitarian Church. At the time my children were young and I wanted them to belong to a faith community other than the Catholic Church. UUism fit my belief system perfectly. When we moved to Long Island I became a member of the Huntington UU Fellowship. After my kids went through Coming of Age, I became less involved and stopped attending in Going to a Christmas service is a family tradition in our home. We found UUCDC two Christmases ago when we attended Christmas Eve services while visiting my daughter in Media. We really had a positive experience. So when my husband and I moved from NY to PA to be near our married daughters and their children, we were happy to live close enough to UUCDC to start attending services. I decided to re-establish my UU roots and became a member of this most delightful, welcoming congregation. Fritz and Roxanne Ward Jeanmarie Fox and Steven Wilcox Steve and Jeanmarie met about seven years ago. At the time, Steve was living in West Chester and was a Unitarian Universalist member there. Jeanmarie attended a few services with him and became interested in the religion. Over a year ago, Steve moved in with her in Glenolden and they decided to visit and ultimately join this church. Jeanmarie has a 26-year-old son (Carl), a rabid atheist, and a cat (Troy), who live with them. Jeanmarie has always lived in the Philadelphia/Delaware County area and enjoys going to the theater, not just Broadway or mainstream productions but also community theater or obscure works. She loves animals, dogs especially, and enjoys crafts, knitting and baking. She is very concerned about our environment and what is happening with wildlife, overdevelopment, and lack of green space, and is looking forward to working with UUCDC s Environmental Justice group. Since 1982 Jeanmarie has been employed by the University of Pennsylvania in the medical school's financial aid office, whose mission focuses on diversity and inclusion. We live in Rutledge with our daughter, Freya. Writers by trade, Roxanne works for a medical publisher in the city and Fritz works at Swarthmore College. Roxanne was attending the Unitarian Society of Germantown before we moved to this area, and we found UUCDC when we were looking for a minister for our wedding. Peter married us in June We love the RE program and are involved in the Soul Matters small groups. Patricia Beal I have three wonderful children and have been blessed with four beautiful grandchildren. My career was spent in medical office management. For my retirement career I am happy to be part of the great mission at Ten Thousand Villages as a parttime sales associate. I experienced a devastating life change a couple of years ago after which I spent two difficult years putting myself back together again. It was through my therapist at that time that I found UUCDC. It is with gratitude to her that I found a spiritual home here, where I can continue to heal and grow spiritually. I am happy to be part of UUCDC. (Continued on page 15)

15 Page 15 [New Members, continued from p. 14) Jack and Laura Foley The Foleys moved with their daughter Emma from New Jersey to Springfield in January While they were both raised Catholic, they were interested in seeking out a different kind of faith. Their belief in the importance of universal acceptance and love led them to feel that UUCDC was the right fit for them and their growing family. Help and a Helpful Item From Dinosaurs Alive New Members-Buddies Group Can Use a Coordinator We ll soon bid farewell to New Members-Buddies Group Coordinator Jayne Tamburello, wishing her well as she moves to Delaware. So we are looking for an organizer from the current crop of group members. This service opportunity includes some communication and planning of social events. Please contact Joan Karasick at membership@uucdc.org if you have questions or would like to help. The Dinosaurs Alive group (ages 65 and up) is offering both a service and a dandy little item. The Service The service is for parents of well newborns and well children up to one year old. Two Dinosaurs Alive volunteers are willing to go to your home, while you are there, to be with your child. This would allow you to tend to other children or other needs in your home. Volunteers will stay up to two hours. The Dandy Little Item Explore the library! On various Sundays during coffee hours, Jean Taranta, Nancy Gibbons and Phyllis Trahey will be selling One Light, Many Windows refrigerator magnets to benefit the church. Price is $5. Look for their table in Fellowship Hall and take one home. Dinosaurs Alive is part of the Membership Engagement Ministry Team. Rev. Peter s theme for February was Desire. For further reflection, the library has a sampling of books you may be interested in. The library is available to all church members and friends, and is located in the church s lower level. The 5 Rules of Thought: How to Use the Power of Your Mind To Get What You Want by Mary T. Browne Reaching For the Sun: Meditations by Angela Herrera Wishes Fulfilled: Mastering the Art of Manifesting by Wayne W. Dyer Adult Faith Development Library Goes Online Many of you are borrowing books from the library opposite the Chapel on the lower level and we thank you! The shelves are arranged in categories such as Spirituality, Mind and Body, World Religions, Science and Religion, Theology, Bible and UU History. It's easy to sign out a book on the clipboard and we follow an honor system. We are pleased to announce our entire book collection can now be previewed on our Good- Reads webpage. There's also an easy link on the uucdc.org Library webpage, under the Learn tab, anytime you'd like to see what's available and new. Special thanks to the Library Committee for advancing this project. Volunteers and book donations are welcome. Funds to underwrite a memorial book may also be given. Joan Karasick at membership@uucdc.org for more information. The Library Committee

16 Page 16 Justice & Outreach Ministry Team Three Initiatives Top UUPLAN Spring Activities The Unitarian Universalist Pennsylvania Legislative Advocacy Network (UUPLAN) has a lot going on! The group has a full agenda for March and April, and we look forward to our congregation s participation where possible. Finally, the Unitarian Universalist Association has a crowd-sourcing website, Faithify. One current project, Clean Slate Justice, is a UUPLAN activity that is setting up expungement clinics to provide citizens returning from incarceration a path to employment and productive lives. Our church has a history, through Thresholds, of working to reduce recidivism, and this is one additional opportunity. Money raised by all of us throughout Pennsylvania will be matched by the national association. A certain amount is designated for the clinics, but the rest will be divided among other UUPLAN projects: Economic Justice, LGBTQ Justice, Reproductive Justice, Immigration Justice and Environmental Justice. I realize not everyone is able to donate, but if you are looking for a place to contribute, look at Faithify. Working together we can bring our values into the greater world and increase the greater good. Mardys Leeper Raise the Wage is sponsoring or participating in statewide actions in March to push the legislature to move toward creating a living wage for all Pennsylvanians. One activity will take place in Harrisburg on March 15. On that day, the Pennsylvania Restaurant and Lodging Association is having a lobby day in Harrisburg. The Restaurant Opportunity Center will be doing a news conference in the Rotunda to counter the restaurant and lodging association, and will be focusing on the One Fair Wage campaign (elimination of the tipped minimum wage) as a means of bringing about income equality. Since the majority of tipped workers are female, we also feel that this is also a women s rights issue. In fact, the Reproductive Justice team of UUPLAN considers the unequal pay of women a reproductive justice issue. Many women are responsible for supporting their children, and on low wages, this is extremely difficult if not impossible. UUPLAN is asking people to support the 2016 Pennsylvania Equal Pay Day Proclamation on April 12. Also in April is Democracy Spring. As you know, our church is supporting this important national action to remove the corrupting influence of money from American elections. Please see what you can do to help (see accompanying article). I will look for more ways that we can support these three endeavors. How We Share Collection Plate Area residents who experience food insecurity or have mental-health issues benefited in February from the congregation s generosity via the Share the Plate program. We contributed $903 to the Media Food Bank on Feb. 14 and $583 to the Compeer Program of Suburban Philadelphia, a mental-health volunteer organization, on Feb. 28. Part of the Justice and Outreach Ministry Team, the program gives away 100% of the cash in the offering plate to a worthy area nonprofit organization on the second and fourth Sundays of the month. In March, the recipients will be Family Promise (formerly Interfaith Hospitality Network) on March 13 and the Delaware County Literacy Council on March 27. How to Help Prepare For Democracy Spring, April 2-16 Here and in D.C. Now that the congregation has endorsed the national Democracy Spring campaign to help get big money out of politics and ensure free and fair elections (democracyspring.org), there are lots of ways for you to get involved. And there s lots to do. The two-week, nonpartisan campaign will start April 2 at the Liberty Bell, from which an estimated 300 marchers will head toward the nation s Capitol, stopping that night in Ridley Park on Chester Pike, (Continued on page 17)

17 Page 17 (Democracy Spring continued from page 16) where they ll start again the next day. The church s DS Working Group can use help coordinating housing and helping to feed them in churches, union halls and the like. To volunteer, contact the group at democracyspring@uucdc.org. The marchers are scheduled to arrive April 11 in Washington, D.C., where, if Congress has failed to seriously deal with big money in politics, thousands will conduct a peaceful sit-in at the Capitol. More than 1,000 people have pledged to risk arrest between April 11 and 16 in nonviolent civil disobedience actions. You can participate in many ways and you don t have to march or risk arrest! If you re interested in participating in D.C., you can write to the address above to inquire about carpooling or housing choices. In addition, besides helping with the marchers when they stop in our area, you can: Sign up online to support Democracy Spring (democracyspring.org) Attend the Liberty Bell rally on April 2 (we ll help organize a church group to attend) Tell others about DS via your social media accounts Write letters to the editor and to your elected representatives in support of DS March with DS folks for part (or all!) of the journey Democracy Spring is not liberal or conservative, Democratic or Republican it s about the future of American representative government. The church s Move to Amend for Free and Fair Democracy Committee believes that curbing the overwhelming influence of big money in politics is not the most important problem on the domestic agenda but it is the problem that needs to be solved first before virtually all of the other problems can be properly addressed. The committee is part of the Justice and Outreach Ministry Team. Questions or comments? democracyspring@uucdc.org Neil Goldstein The dedication of the Judy Coslett Learning Center was held on Feb. 7 at the Chester Eastside nonprofit agency, which the church supports. It was gratifying to see acknowledgement of the Chester High School students who attended the after-school program there. Several students sang songs and stole the audience s hearts in the process. The learning center, which has new computers and a library, provides church members a wonderful opportunity to volunteer. The after-school program helps 25 elementary-school children with tutoring, homework help and enrichment programs four afternoons a week. In addition, two volunteers with special talents are needed. If you have human-resources knowledge and are familiar with salary and benefit policies, the agency can use your help to review the current polices in one or two sessions. Also, a reading specialist would be helpful in assessing the needs of the afterschool students, especially the children who are not functioning at grade level. Your presence, talents and commitment will make an impact on the lives of the children in Chester.. How You Can Help At Chester Eastside s After-School Program

18 145 W. Rose Tree Road, Media, PA Focus Sunday, March 13 One Service 10 a.m. AND Daylight Saving Time!

19 Calendar * For the latest on the calendar and events go to Date Event Time 3/1 IHN Demo event 5:00 PM Yoga 5:30 PM Meditation Moments 7:30 PM 3/2 Delco Dudes Democracy Spring Media Chamber Chorale 7:15 PM 3/3 Small Group Ministry 1:00 PM UU Weighty Matters 5:30 PM Integrated Kung Fu & Kickboxing 6:45 PM Chorus Rehearsal 3/4 Safe Harbor AA Meeting 11:00 AM 3/5 Integrated Kung Fu & Kickboxing 9:00 AM Dance To Explore Uncover Release and Renew Workshop 10:30 AM Concert Set-Up 5:00 PM Music OUT Loud Concert! 7:30 PM 3/6 Children's Religious Education 9:15 AM Worship Service 9:15 AM Worship Service 11:15 AM Interweave Brunch 12:30 PM Laughter Yoga Club 2:00 PM Songwriter's Workshop with Joe Stevens! 2:00 PM Independent Catholics 3:00 PM Sunday Soul Matters 5:00 PM YUUCKIs 6:00 PM 3/7 Music Ministry Meeting 3/8 Yoga 5:30 PM Integrated Kung Fu & Kickboxing PFLAG Meditation Moments 7:30 PM 3/9 Media Chamber Chorale 7:15 PM 3/10 Integrated Kung Fu & Kickboxing 6:45 PM Chorus Rehearsal Thursday Soul Matters Camera Club 7:30 PM 3/11 Safe Harbor AA Meeting 11:00 AM 3/12 Integrated Kung Fu & Kickboxing 9:00 AM Dance To Explore Uncover Release and Renew Workshop 10:30 AM PBJ Making for Task Force on Hunger 3:00 PM Servers Assemble for Task Force on Hunger 5:00 PM Servers return Task Force on Hunger 8:00 PM 3/13 Worship Service 10:00 AM Social Justice Summit - Follow Up 11:30 AM Black Lives Matter 11:30 PM Laughter Yoga Club 2:00 PM Independent Catholics 3:00 PM Young Families Soul Matters 4:00 PM Executive Team Meeting 6:00 PM Young Families Potluck 6:00 PM YUUCKIs 6:00 PM 3/14 Media Chamber Chorale 7:15 PM 3/15 Yoga 5:30 PM Integrated Kung Fu & Kickboxing Meditation Moments 7:30 PM 3/16 Cakes for the Queen of Heaven Delco Dudes Media Chamber Chorale 7:15 PM 145 W. Rose Tree Road, Media, PA *Printed February 29, 2016

20 3/17 RTDS Director's Round Table 9:00 AM Dinosaurs Alive 11:00 AM UU Weighty Matters 5:30 PM Integrated Kung Fu & Kickboxing 6:45 PM Chorus Rehearsal GTS Team Meeting 3/18 Safe Harbor AA Meeting 11:00 AM RTDS Directors Round Table 11:30 AM 3/19 Integrated Kung Fu & Kickboxing 9:00 AM Quilting 9:00 AM Bickford Memorial Service 12:00 PM 3/20 Children's Religious Education 9:15 AM Worship Service 9:15 AM OWL 10:00 AM Worship Service 11:15 AM COA - Family Interest Meeting 12:30 PM Interweave: LGBTQIA & Friends Business Meeting 12:30 PM Laughter Yoga Club 2:00 PM Independent Catholics 3:00 PM YUUCKIs 6:00 PM 3/25 Safe Harbor AA Meeting 11:00 AM Independent Catholics Good Friday Book Club 7:30 PM 3/26 Integrated Kung Fu & Kickboxing 9:00 AM Independent Catholics Holy Saturday 3/27 Children's Religious Education 9:15 AM Worship Service 9:15 AM Worship Service 11:15 AM Interweave Rainbow Women's Group 12:30 PM Laughter Yoga Club 2:00 PM Independent Catholics 3:00 PM 3/29 Yoga 5:30 PM Integrated Kung Fu & Kickboxing Meditation Moments 7:30 PM 3/30 Media Chamber Chorale 7:15 PM 3/31 Integrated Kung Fu & Kickboxing 6:45 PM Chorus Rehearsal 3/21 Quilting 1:00 PM Focus Deadline 5:00 PM Rose Tree Day School Board 6:45 PM Board of Trustees 7:15 PM 3/22 Yoga 5:30 PM Integrated Kung Fu & Kickboxing Meditation Moments 7:30 PM 3/23 Media Chamber Chorale 7:15 PM 3/24 Integrated Kung Fu & Kickboxing 6:45 PM Chorus Rehearsal Independent Catholics Maundy Thursday