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INTERCOM
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The
Unitarian
Universalist Church of the North Hills
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Carol
Meyer
Minister
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June
17,
2007
Volume XLVI, No. 11
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Carol
Ballance,
Board President
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Dawn FitzGerald-Swidal,
Editor, email
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CHURCH OFFICE HOURS
Carol Meyer,
Minister:
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10:30 - 12:30pm, Thursday; Any other
time by appointment
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Greta
Porter, DRE:
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T, TH: 10:00
am -
Noon |
Sheila
McCall,
Secretary:
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9:00 - noon, Monday
through Friday |
Website:
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www.uucnh.org,
contact the website manager
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The
Ballance Sheet
By the time you read this I will be in Portland, Oregon with Greta
Porter, attending General Assembly (GA). GA is the annual meeting
of the Unitarian Universalist Association. There is a lot of
denominational business that happens at this meeting. There are
loads of workshops, networking and many opportunities for
worship. I have just received the program, which is 124 pages
thick! I'm not sure how to narrow it down but I will try to make
good use of my time.
The range of topics and groups represented in the program reminds me of
how diverse we UUs are. There is a Shabbat service, a Christian
worship that includes communion, a Sisterhood Worship, a social witness
service and so on. The diversity is overwhelming! One of
the great challenges of being a UU is how to embrace the
diversity. How do we honor and truly understand each other's
differences? Can we truly listen to the other person's
view? Can we create an environment that is safe and caring enough
to allow differing views to be honestly expressed? The ability to
embrace diversity is also one of the great gifts we UUs can offer to
the world. If we can truly live that we must not all think alike
but that we shall endeavor to walk together, perhaps the world can too.
In fellowship,
Carol Balance
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REV. CAROL’S ANNUAL LEAVE
Carol’s letter of agreement with UUCNH provides for nine weeks of
annual leave, half as vacation and half as study leave. This
summer Carol will be taking annual leave from June 20 through August
22. She will be on Buddhist retreat locally from June 20-23, and
otherwise has no firm plans to be away or otherwise unavailable.
So please feel invited to email or call her at home as
needed. Look for an update on Carol’s summer plans in the July
Intercom.
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Upcoming Services
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* NOTE ON SUMMER
SERVICE HOURS*
Starting with the July 1st Sunday Service, UUCNH will be observing our
usual Summer service times. Services will start at 10:00am
through August and possibly Labor Day.
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July
1: Service will start at 10:00am!
HEALING RAGE—
MAKING INNER PEACE POSSIBLE
Ruth King, MA
Rage sits at the
threshold of personal transformation. Those of us seeking
spiritual enlightenment will inevitably stumble upon the undeniable
truth of personal rage on the path. Rage is not to be understood
as a useless emotion, empty of story, knowledge or wisdom. Rather
rage is fierce clarity and untapped fuel. Embraced with
compassion, this trapped energy becomes an intimate and empathic
teacher of balance and integrity in our lives.
In this Sunday service, Ruth King, MA, author of Healing Rage—Women
Making Inner Peace Possible, will share a provocative perspective on
rage and its healing properties. We will discover that when we
are paying kind attention to rage, it ceases to be a problem.
Ruth King, MA, a respected voice on transforming rage, is president of
Bridges, Branches & Braids—an organization working with negative
emotions in positive ways, and author of Healing Rage--Women Making
Inner Peace Possible. King weaves 20+ years in psychology,
leadership development, shamanism, metaphysics, systems theory,
meditation and teachings from wisdom traditions, to lecture, coach, and
facilitate retreats that transform the emotional body and mind. www.healingrage.com
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July 8: - 10:00 AM
“Are You Awake?”
Rev. Renee Waun
If you have had a
chance to learn a bit about Buddhism, you will know that awakening is a
key concept. What does it mean to be awake? How do we find
our truth? How do we maneuver when others sometimes want to be in
charge of our truth—or vice versa? Dr. Waun’s reflections are
meant to help us in our own awakening.
Maurine (Renee) C.
Waun, D.Min, was ordained originally by the United Methodists, but has
served as a UU pastor since 1999, serving in ministry for over 24 years
in the Pittsburgh area. She has been active in AIDS care and
advocacy, as well as speaking and serving on behalf of disenfranchised
groups of people through GLSEN (Gay, Lesbian and Straight Educational
Network) and PIIN (Pittsburgh Interfaith Impact network).
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July 15: - 10:00 AM
Summertime
Paul Cox, Coordinator
Summertime is a
special season. Life seems slower, less intense and more
fun. On July 15, members of our congregation will use personal
reflections, song and poetry to suggest what summer means to
them. And the congregation will be invited to share one-sentence
thoughts about summer, too. The service will be casual, informal,
fun, and -- who knows? -- maybe even a little insightful.
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| July 22: - 10:00 AM
Varieties of Pacifism
Jeff
Liebmann, Student Minister, First Unitarian Church of Pittsburgh
While
Unitarian Universalists generally take stands in opposition to war and
arms proliferation, as a denomination we have not made an ultimate move
toward advocating absolute pacifism. In fact, rather than take
one general stand on the issue of peace, we have historically supported
a variety of positions on the subject of pacifism. We will
discuss some of these positions from the historical context of the
1930's by exploring the work of three Unitarian ministers who responded
very differently to the rise of Hitler in Nazi Germany prior to the
outbreak of World War II.
Jeff Liebmann is
enrolled in the Modified Residency Program at the Meadville Lombard
Theological School in Chicago, pursing a Master of Divinity degree on
the path to Unitarian Universalist ministry. A long-time member
of the First Unitarian Church of Pittsburgh, he is currently serving as
a Student Minister while working at the University of Pittsburgh and
taking classes. Jeff has worked for many years in youth ministry
in the Ohio-Meadville District, serving as a youth advisor and Adult
Co-Chair of the Youth-Adult Committee.
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| July 29: - 10:00 AM
"Intimately, Ultimately Connected"
Rev. Renee
Waun
The Seventh
UU Principle affirms "the interdependent web of all existence of which
we are a part". How far and wide does that connection really
go? Dr. Waun will use concepts from Deepak Chopra to expand on
this topic in a profound way.
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Mark your calendars for the annual camping trip to the Allegheny
National Forest, which will take place August 1-5. Come for all
or part of the time – a good time is always had by all. Please
sign up with Kathy Ke.
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PITTSBURGH UU’s ORGANIZE TO HELP IN NEW
ORLEANS
The Unitarian Universalist Association and the Unitarian Universalist
Service Committee continue working together to coordinate volunteer
relief efforts in the Gulf Coast. Although it has been two years
since Hurricanes Katrina and Rita slammed the Gulf Coast, there remains
serious devastation and great on-going need for recovery efforts.
Unitarian Universalists everywhere have contributed large sums of money
and many hours of effort, lending skills and compassion to help those
most directly affected so that they may regain their homes, their
dignity and their lives.
The Social Action Committee (SAC) of the UU Church of the South Hills,
Pittsburgh, is currently developing plans to create an opportunity for
local UU’s to travel to New Orleans to help with these reconstruction
efforts. The UUA/UUSC Gulf Coast coordinators have given SAC the
green light to come down to New Orleans the week of October 13-20, 2007
and join the on-going volunteer clean-up effort. A group of up to
40 adults will travel from Pittsburgh to New Orleans on Saturday,
October 13 and take up temporary residence at First Unitarian, New
Orleans. There the group will live dormitory-style for a week,
purchasing its own food and preparing its own meals in the church’s
well-supplied kitchen. After spending a day in training and
orientation, the group will then devote five days to the hard work of
helping victims reclaim their homes and their lives. We will be
returning to Pittsburgh on Saturday, October 20, 2007.
Although SAC is providing the impetus and coordinating the effort, the
hope is that the greater Pittsburgh UU community will join the effort
and that the ultimate group of 40 will be made up of UU’s from all of
the area UU churches. This is a wonderful opportunity for the
Pittsburgh UU’s to come together to put our values and principles into
action and to strengthen our community in the process.
The expenses of the trip will be borne by individuals and is expected
to total approximately $350 per person, including airfare to New
Orleans, ground transportation in New Orleans in the form of commercial
vans, $5/night fee to First Unitarian Church/ New Orleans for the use
of their church building, safety equipment in the form of N-95 masks
and filters, and food for the week. Of course, any personal
expenses above those basic necessities will depend on the activities
and needs of individuals. Various fundraising ideas and efforts
are being discussed and the success of those fundraising efforts may
help lower the out-of-pocket expenses of some or all participants.
Please consider joining this critically needed effort with your fellow
Pittsburgh Unitarian Universalists. If you have questions,
fundraising ideas, want to volunteer to join the group and/or help with
plans and preparations, please contact Michael Miller, Coordinator, at
412-650-9040 or at mmiller@usaor.net.
More information about the UUA/UUSC Gulf Coast efforts can be found at www.uua.org and at www.uusc.org.
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Here are a few
options for recycling some things you might otherwise throw away:
Cycle recycle
Free Ride, a non-profit recycle-a-bike shop located inside Construction
Junction, will refurbish it and give it a new home.
http://www.freeridepgh.org/
Recycle Computers
Take to Goodwill store on McKnight Road
www.reconnectpartnership.com
Contemporary clothing men’s and women’s
Cash, not consignment
5858 Forbes Avenue in Squirrel Hill
412-421-2911
www.avalonexchange.com
Books, CD’s, games, etc.
Half Price Books at 4932 McKnight Road
412-369-0860
www.halfpricebooks.com
Free compost classes, “put the worms to work” and rain barrel workshops
Conservation Consultants, Inc. - Bringing Resources Together
Call Corinne Ogrodnik 412-431-4449 ext 325 or corinneo@ccicenter.org
http://www.ccicenter.org/
Home Improvement surplus
Furniture and building materials
Construction Junction, 241 N. Lexington Street, Point Breeze
412-243-5025
www.constructionjunction.org
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Non-Sunday
classes:
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Facilitator: Carol Ballance
Monday evenings 7-8
Dates: 7/9
Simplicity Circle will meet on July 9 (one week later than
normal.) We meet at the church at 7 p.m. and finish about 8:30
p.m. We will discuss chapter 4, Business and Economy in Choices for Sustainable Living.
Tip for the month - take along a plastic container in a gift bag when
you go out to eat. You won't need to waste styrofoam for your
doggie bag.
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Facilitator: Carol Ballance
Friday evenings, 7pm at Members’ Homes:
Next: 6/29, 7/20.
June 29, we’ll meet at Dawn Lindgren's house around 7:00 p.m. (carpool
from church at 6:30 p.m.). We'll discuss Scott Turow's Ordinary Heroes. If
you have questions contact Dawn Lindgren.
July 20, we will discuss Sue Monk Kidd's The Dance of the Dissident
Daughters: A woman's journey from Christian tradition to the Sacred
Feminine. The place has not been decided at the Intercom
deadline. Contact Carol Ballance
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GARDEN VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
Enjoy the pleasure of gardening, with so little effort. Please
Contact Scott Mabey at to be included on the garden watering schedule a
few times this summer, and help with the harvest later in the
summer. There is a hose conveniently located in the memorial
garden. The proceeds of the produce from our organic garden are
donated to feed the hungry.
SUMMER RE
Volunteers urgently needed for our summer Sundays with the
children. Bring a craft or game to share with the children,
create nature decorations for our church summer camp, water and tend
the garden, or share any special interest or hobby you may have with
the children. Contact Greta Porter
SUMMER CAMP DECORATING PARTY
Sunday, July 22 – 11:00 a.m.
Everyone is welcome to join in the decorating for our Roots and Shoots
Summer Camp for Kids. We will clear the West Room of chairs and
transform the room into a world of nature. Bring any nature
decorations you may have, from artificial Christmas Trees to stuffed
animals. We may even order Pizza. Feel free to contact
Greta Porter.
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July
Social Action
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- 2007 One Stop Drop Off for Hard to Dispose of
Items
There appears to only be one day for the "Hard to Dispose of Items" collection
at Construction Junction, 214 N. Lexington Street, Pittsburgh PA
15208. The event will be from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on
Saturday, July 14, 2007. Materials to be collected include: large appliances, rimless passenger tires,
latex paint, electronics (including computers, televisions, fax
machines, printers) and cell phones*. Many of the
electronic items are considered "Hazardous Waste" as they contain lead,
cadmium, arsenic and other potentially toxic elements. Please
dispose of these items in a safe manner through this program!
A small CASH fee will be charged to participants per item. Fees
range from $1 to $20. Look for more information (when I get it)
on the Social Action bulletin board, or see Chris Hill . We also
need volunteers who can take a few items down on this date.
*Cell phones are being collected as part of a new arrangement with
Verizon Wireless' Hopeline Program (sm). PRC sends all of the
cell phones it collects to the HopeLine program, where they are
refurbished or recycled with all proceeds benefiting victims of
domestic violence.
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Several of you have asked about recycling your household batteries,
including alkalines, button cells, and rechargeables.
The E-house on Carson Street on the South Side will take all kinds of
batteries. So, we'll set up a box in friendship hall to collect
them and take it down to E-house whenever it gets full. We can
take any kind of household batteries except leaking ones or large car
batteries (i.e. no lead acid). Since they must pay $1 per pound
to send them out, E house would appreciate a contribution, but it's not
required. For reference, 1 lb is 3 D cells or 6 C cells or 15 AA
cells or about 25 AAA cells. If you have questions, or could help
with a monthly (?) run down to E house, contact Chris Hill.
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What does Fair
Trade mean?
Fair Trade means that farmers are guaranteed a
minimum price for their crop before planting. Sort of like
knowing what your salary is before you start a job. In many
cooperatives, they can take out an advance to pay for their supplies,
thus avoiding going into debt. These small farmers that receive a
fair payment for their products are able to afford basic necessities
like medical care and education for their children.
So buy some of our coffee-whole bean or drip grind; from Breakfast
Blend to French Roast to Decaf and flavored. Only $8 per bag. How
about some cocoa to ward off the cold of this resurgent winter?
Only $6 for a can of Baking or Drink Mix. Or try some of our
chocolate in six (6) flavors (Milk, Dark, Dark with Almonds, Dark with
mint, Dark with espresso beans or Dark with cocoa nib chunks). $4
per bar, $7 for 2 or $10 for 3.
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- NHCO FOOD PANTRY "DONATION STATION”
For July: Any
Kind of Pasta & Pasta Sauce
Please don’t forget to contribute to the "Donation Station" for the
NORTH HILLS COMMUNITY OUTREACH (NHCO) Food Pantry, located in
Friendship Hall near the entrance to the RE Hallway. The July
NHCO request is to bring Any Kind of Pasta and/or Pasta Sauces the
church. AND laundry detergent, toilet paper, toothpaste, shampoo
and bar soap are always needed. Thanks to all who have
contributed lately.
Plastic bags needed by north hills community outreach: If you're
inundated by plastic bags, bring your extras to the church and drop
them off at the Food Pantry Donation Station. NHCO uses them to
sort food at the food pantry.
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- PLEASANT
VALLEY MEN'S SHELTER
The shelter has a list of dates available for 2007 for all UUCNH
members and friends able to prepare and serve dinners to shelter
residents. Please consider planning ahead for one of these
dates. If interested, contact Greg Jarold.
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~SUPPORT UUCNH ~
BUY GROCERY GIFT
CARDS
You can help balance the church budget by buying groceries! If
you shop at Giant Eagle, Festival or Kuhn’s, consider joining your
fellow church members by purchasing gift cards for these stores.
For every $100 in groceries you buy using the gift card, the church
gets $5. They are simple to use, convenient and cost you no extra
money. If you are interested in purchasing the cards, please see
Jim Noel during coffee hour.
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AUGUST INTERCOM SUBMISSIONS
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The next Intercom
will be published on July 15, 2007. Thus,
Wednesday, June 11, 2007
will be the DEADLINE for the August Intercom. This is a HARD deadline - if your material isn’t in
by the deadline, it will NOT
be included in the next Intercom. If you need a deadline
extension, contact the editor (email)
to make arrangements.
If you email your submissions, please do it IN PLAIN TEXT ONLY; NO HTML emails -
they are NOT compatible with
the Intercom format Submissions may be submitted in the office mail
box, or emailed (preferred) to the editor (email).
HOW TO EMAIL IN
PLAIN TEXT: To go your format box on your toolbar in your actual
email and choose plain text. PLEASE,
do not format the article in any way. Thank you!
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