I began attending my first Unitarian Universalist congregation in the early 1980s.  It was a small New England congregation with fewer than 100 members and a significant endowment, which provided sufficient income to allow the church to have a full-time minister.  For several years my participation consisted of little more than attending regularly on Sunday mornings.  I hesitated to get more involved because I wanted to steer clear of what I'd come to know as "church politics" while growing up with parents who were "pillars" of our Lutheran church.

One day I read an article in UU World magazine that transformed my thinking.  I don't recall the author, only that it was a woman who wrote about her experience of feeling like an outsider in her UU church until she began getting more involved.  Like me, this woman had spent years doing little more than attending Sunday services and the occasional social activity.  She knew plenty of people to say hello to or chat with at social hour, but her relationships remained superficial.  She enjoyed the services and felt she was getting a lot out of them, yet also felt that she was missing something, that she wasn't getting as much out of church as she had hoped she might or wanted to.  In some ways she felt disappointed with her UU church experience.  Her initial excitement around having discovered UUism was fading into something bordering on disillusionment. 

Then she became more than a Sunday-morning UU.  She began to volunteer, to find her personal ministry, to contribute in new ways.  She got involved in church programs and activities that she'd been passing up for years.  She began getting to know more people better, to deepen her relationships and form lasting friendships.  She began feeling like her church was truly her home and family, not just a place she visited once a week.  She began to feel part of the church circle, rather than just an observer standing on the circumference. 

Identifying so strongly with how this woman felt before deciding to jump in and become more involved, I decided to give her solution a try.  I volunteered to join the Worship Committee, and surprised even myself by saying, "Yes" when asked to serve as chair.  I began going to some adult religious education programs.  I started singing in the choir.  I began getting to know more people better, and to allow more people to get to know me better.  I began to deepen my relationships and form lasting friendships, to experience my UU church as home and family instead of just a Sunday morning activity.  As it was for the author of that UU World article, my decision to become more involved proved transformative'in my case, truly life-changing.

So, my hope for all of you, dear readers, is that you'll find enjoyable and personally meaningful ways to be involved in small-group activities at UUCNH this year.  The opportunities abound.  UUCNH offers so many ways to participate, all of which can be enjoyable if you want them to be.  Beth Dutton and the Adult RE Committee have put together a rich program of offerings beginning soon; look for descriptions elsewhere in this Intercom.  I'm working with Carla Baldwin, Tassi Bisers, Rik Rodefer and Pam Weaver to create a new small-group ministry this year.  We're hoping you'll find the opportunity to participate in a church-wide process of Appreciative Inquiry through ongoing, small group dialogue simply irresistible; we know UUs love to talk!  Stay after church for a sermon discussion or workshop.  Join a Community Circle, or let me know that you'd like to start a new one.  Volunteer to teach in our RE program for children and youth, or serve as a Youth Advisor, or mentor one of our youth in the Coming of Age program, or just tell our DRE, Greta Porter, that you enjoy working with young people and chat with her about what you might enjoy doing, contributing, or sharing.  You could try singing in the choir (rumour has it they have a lot of fun) or coming to a work party or just telling our Buildings and Grounds Chair, Craig Thomson, that you enjoy working with others on B&G-type projects.  We'll surely be blessed with an abundance of "sweat-equity" opportunities as construction moves forward this year.  You could join our Sunday Services (talk to Paul or Susan Cox), Membership (talk to Kathy Ke or Kathy Miller), Adult RE (talk to Beth Dutton) or Social Action (talk to Kathy Gorka) Teams.  You could tell me you'd like to join our Pastoral Care Team.  You could sign up to host and/or attend Round Robin Dinners.  You could find a few people whom you enjoy being with and create a new team to do something UUCNH has never done before, or to fill a gap in our current volunteer programming, such as working on fun fundraisers, publicity, or denominational affairs. 

Opportunities abound.  In fact, they're endless, because here at UUCNH we're always open to new ideas around how to make our church even better, even more enlivening, even more worthwhile.  And we're still small enough to act expeditiously with little in the way of red tape holding anyone back.  So let this be the year we all jump in with two feet, get involved, meet new people, make new friends and find ways for UUCNH to be all it can be for everyone

COFFEE HOUR AMID CONSTRUCTION

Dear Coffee Hour Hosts, and the Congregation,

As the dust flies while our church is remodelled, coffee hour must be adjusted because we are not certain when we'll have access to the kitchen, Friendship Hall, refrigeration or running water.

To offer coffee hour in a safe and sanitary manner during renovations, it will be held in the back of the West Room, the main room where service is held.  Two tables will be set up in the back.

Biodegradable paper cups, small paper plates, napkins and heavy paper plates for serving will be stored in the closet at the back of the West Room (to the right as you enter the room), where extra chairs are stored.  We will not use tablecloths during this time.

Instead of serving coffee and hot tea, coffee hour hosts are asked to provide beverages that can either be mixed at home or require no preparation, such as iced tea and juices.  Food also should be items that can be carried from your car to the table, requiring no preparation.

We realize that, in some ways, this will be more difficult than our traditional coffee hour and we certainly realize it will not be as grand, but we believe it's the safest way to handle food and beverage service during the remodelling.

We invite you to view this as PENNDOT would: "Temporary inconvenience for permanent improvement."

Thanks for your cooperation,

Diana Hull and Patrice Giancola Noel

 "I know of no safe depository of the ultimate powers of the society but the people themselves; and if we think them not enlightened enough to exercise their control with a wholesome discretion, the remedy is not to take it from them but to inform their discretion."  ~  Thomas Jefferson

I've just sent my youngest off to college, thinking about the last 18 years and all that has happened to bring us to this milestone.  So much change in so little time, human beings are truly amazing.  Many things have led up to this moment, including UUCNH.

My children didn't have much choice about coming to church.  I expected them to stay in the nursery so I could go to service.  My hour of quiet during the years of raising toddlers was a lifeline for me.  The kids looked forward to different toys, friends, snack and feeding the bunnies.  Of course they grew up and moved into religious education classes.  They began to see that sometimes UU's, and our family, believed things and did things a little differently than some of their friends.  They became more involved in the church through making friends, service projects, AIDS education and then later OWL.  Coming of Age was an important milestone.  They tried a few Youth Conferences.  We cooked soup for Youth Group soup sales and for the Pleasant Valley Men's Shelter.

The way my children have grown in the church reminds me of how friends and members grow in faith as well.  At first most visitors come for the service and test the waters a little with coffee hour.  If that feels comfortable, they start coming back.  Next they may try a social event, a one-day work party or a class/discussion group.  They take a turn hosting coffee hour.  They take another class and join a committee.  They sign the membership book.  They pledge.  As their faith deepens and they become more committed, they become more involved.

At General Assembly this summer, people talked about a faith that calls us to action.  We are not waiting for something or someone else to save us.  Our job is to do something to help here and now.  We have 8 wonderful folks who are going to New Orleans in Oct. to help with the Katrina clean up.  Closer to home, we have people recycling, collecting for the food bank, cooking for the men's shelter, selling fair trade coffee and chocolate.  If any of these projects interest you, please get in touch with Kathy Gorka at kgorka@nauticom.net.  You can also read about these projects in this Intercom. 

In fellowship,

WE'D LOVE TO HAVE YOU BRING A SUNDAY BOUQUET!  HERE'S HOW:

*  Call Janine Brobst to be sure no one else has offered flowers for that Sunday.  Otherwise she will provide them.

*  Call the church secretary (412-366-0244) by the preceding Thursday morning so that your name can be printed in the Order of Service.  If your flowers are in memory of a loved one or a special event, tell the secretary.

*  Flowers may be home-grown, or purchased or wildflowers from nature's bounty or artificial arrangements.  Branches trimmed from blooming shrubs are nice, too.  Large vases are available at the church.

*   Have your flowers in places before the pianist starts playing the prelude.  The prelude starts at 10:55am.

Association Sunday, October 14, is part of the UUA's comprehensive campaign to grow our faith.  It is an important opportunity to bring together our congregations and their members to build enthusiasm for the goals of the campaign:  to grow our faith in numbers, spirit, leadership, diversity and witness.

Simply put, more UUs are needed to help heal the wounded world.  People are seeking a faith community that stands up for peace and justice - and they need to know how to find us.  "Now is the Time" to being our message of peace, justice and religious inclusiveness to the world. 

Dr. William Sinkford recently told us in a UU Lay Leaders' email, that the UUA will begin a partnership with Time Magazine (www.time.com,) in early October.  This will launch the first national marketing campaign for Unitarian Universalism in 50 years.  This special campaign is designed to raise awareness of Unitarian Universalism and to share our unique message with a larger audience. 

At UUCNH, we will hold a service about our "Good News."  Members will share why Unitarian Universalism is important to them and why our church is their sanctuary.  Our board voted to take up a special collection to support the special program, "Now is the Time - a Campaign to Grow Our Faith".  50% of the money collected will go to the national media campaign.  25% of the money will go to help ministers of color.  25% will be distributed back to the Districts.

Save the date, October 14, and save your dollars to contribute.  

DRIVER NEEDED!

We are a small group of drivers who are currently taking some of our Sherwood Oaks members (in Cranberry) back and forth from Church one Sunday each month.  We have consistent drivers for every Sunday of the month except the first one.  If you are interested in helping out (and enjoying some very good company along the way!), please contact Rik Rodefer, Paul Hrach, Henry Price (substitute driver), or Lynn Richards at 724-776-4183 or lrich@nauticom.net.  Thanks!!

SOCIAL ACTION CORNER-

*     Looking To Donate Your Old Car?

North Hills Community Outreach has a program for distribution of donated cars to people of low income.  NHCO will accept cars in any condition.  Those that are drivable are sold to clients for a purchase price typically between $1500-$2200.  If you have a car you wish to donate (and receive a tax credit for charitable donation), please contact Randy Murchak at Community Auto in Gibsonia at 724-443-8300.  See Diane Hutchins if you have any questions.

*     Winter coats needed

Please consider donating your clean, gently worn winter coats to the North Hills Community Outreach.  They especially need children's and adult extra-large sizes.  Please leave your coats in the designated area on the front entrance coat rack before October 25.  Last year 900 coats were distributed to low-income families in the North Hills.  If you need more information, you can contact Peggy Trevanion by email at birdies4@comcast.net

*     Crisis Center North (CCN)

*     Blanchard Valley UU Flood Relief

At the service of August 26th, a special offering was collected to aid the UU Church of Blanchard Valley in Findlay, Ohio.  The church suffered extensive damage and loss of property in the recent flooding there.  We pitched in $550 to help them recover.  Thanks for your generosity!

"Facts are stubborn things; and whatever may be our wishes, our inclinations or the dictates of our passion, they cannot alter the state of facts and evidence"  ~ John Adams, Dec. 1770

A LETTER FROM THE ARTS IN THE AUTUMN COMMITTEE

First, the sad news:  there won't be an Arts in the Autumn Festival in 2007.  Our church renovation/expansion project that will extend through the fall makes it logistically impossible to hold the festival.

Now the good news:  as a result of the current construction project, the venue for the 2008 will be larger and better than ever before.  Additionally, the committee is working on ways to improve the festival, so that we can attract the most talented artists in the area as well as the largest audience possible.

To this end, the next Arts in the Autumn Festival will be a juried show held in the fall of 2008.  In addition to the juried show, we're hoping to organize a Grab-and-Go sale.  The idea behind the Grab-and-Go sale is that buyers can take the work they purchase immediately -and not have to wait until the show ends.  We anticipate that work for this sale will be reasonably small -small enough to carry, and be priced under $100.   

Invitations to participate in both the juried show and the Grab-and-Go sale will be sent to the artists approximately 8 weeks before the show.  The materials will outline the application procedure as well as specifications for size, media, etc.  The materials will also describe how the work will be juried.

Facilitator: Tony Palermo
Contact:  tpalermo@nauticom.net
When: 1st Sunday after service
Date: October 7, see Tony for Room.

How'd We Get Here - A discussion in several sessions of the way Evolution made us the way we are.  We'll start with the basics of Natural Selection and the philosophy it implies [Does Intelligence evolve or must it be there at the Beginning?] and then thru the development of moral rudiments of society to the everlasting, and everlastingly interesting, tensions of male-female relationships. 

After 2 years discussing scholarly thought about the New Testament & the Historical Jesus, we have one more area to finish, the place of Jesus philosophy in the world of religious thought, as described in Stephen Mitchell's excellent book, The Gospel According to Jesus.  After this section, we will start over, beginning with historical evidence for the existence of Jesus and the nature of the Gospels [Fact, Fiction or What?].  Every 3rd Sunday of the month, after the service; room to be announced.  See Tony Palermo for details.

Interested participants can register by calling or e-mailing Lou with your name, telephone number and e-mail address. 

Your Money or Your Life, by Joe Dominguez and Vicki Robin, is a best-selling book about a nine-step program for personal financial transformation - they way you can earn, spend and save money.  (We can try and put in a group book order at a discount.  Contact Lou with your order by 10/1.)

Interested participants can register by calling or e-mailing Chris with your name, telephone number and e-mail address. 

The Gnostic Gospels by Elaine Pagels is a landmark study of the long-buried roots of Christianity.  In 1945 an Egyptian peasant unearthed what proved to be the Gnostic Gospels, thirteen papyrus volumes that expounded a radically different view of the life and teachings of Jesus.  Pagels explores this range of gospels, including the Gospel of Thomas and the Gospel of Mary Magdalene, to show how a variety of "Christianities" emerged at a time of extraordinary spiritual upheaval.  Some Christians questioned the need for clergy and church doctrine, and taught that the divine could be discovered through spiritual search.  Many others sought enlightenment within.  Such explorations raised questions:  Was the resurrection to be understood symbolically and not literally?  Was God to be envisioned only in masculine form, or feminine, as well?  These early Christians dared to ask questions that orthodox Christians later suppressed ? and their explorations led to profoundly different visions of Jesus and his message.  The Gnostic Gospels is a radical, eloquent reconsideration of the origins of the Christian faith.  Participants will need to purchase the book (~$15, but we can try and put in a group order at a discount.  Contact Chris with your order by 10/1.)

Simplicity Circle will meet at the church on Monday, October 1st from 7 ? 8:30 p.m.  We will discuss Chapter 7 "Home, Health, and Leisure" in Choices for Sustainable Living.  Marsha Albright will facilitate this time.  Anyone is welcome to join our discussion; if you have questions, please contact Carol at ballance@ nauticom.net

Tip for the month - walk, ride your bike, take the bus, or carpool instead of driving

     *     BOOK DISCUSSION 

A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hussein is a story about 2 very different women and 30 years of Afghan history.  As war and loss bring Mariam and Laila together they develop a bond of sisterhood that gets them though the danger they face everyday of their lives.  Self-sacrifice and heroic acts come from one woman's love for her family and her will to survive.  Please join us for discussion at Lou Bartolomucci house this time.  Please RSVP to: lizmarlow@aol.com

     *     AGING WITH GRACE      

Interested participants can register by calling or e-mailing Marsha with your name, telephone number and e-mail address.  There is no fee for the class.  You may wish to purchase a book, borrow one from Marsha or bring along a book that you may have.

Some books that will be discussed are: 

• Aging as a Spiritual Journey by Eugene Bianchi
• The Fountain of Age by Betty Friedan
• Successful Aging by Mary O'Brien, M.D.
• From Age-ing to Sage-ing by Zalman Schachter-Shalomi and Ronald Miller
• Wisdom of the Elders by David Suzuki and Peter Knudtson
• The Crone  - Woman of Age, Wisdom, and Power by Barbara Walker
• Wise Women, A Celebration of Their Insights, Courage, and Beauty
      by Joyce Tenneson
• If I Had My Life To Live Over, I Would Pick More Daisies and
• When I Am An Old Woman, I Shall Wear Purple, anthologies
  
    edited by Sandra Martz

Facilitator:  Jeff Hutchins
Contact:  jeff@jeffhutchins.com
When: Friday or Saturday nights
Where: The Hutchins' home (see Jeff)
Dates: First Film on October 27 at 7:00pm

Film: Battleship Potemkin

UUCNH member Jeff Hutchins, who received his B.S. degree in Broadcasting & Film, will be teaching a Film Appreciation Course as part of the UUCNH Adult R.E. program this fall.

The course will consist of eight three-hour classes on an irregular basis, at Jeff's home on either Friday or Saturday nights depending on students' preferences.  The class size is strictly limited to EIGHT participants.  Sign up is on a first-come, first-served basis.  Once the class is full, people on a waiting list will be contacted if a "regular" attendee drops out or cannot make one of the classes.  Notify Jeff directly of your interest by telephone (412-367-8094) or email (jeff@jeffhutchins.com).  There is no fee for the class, and participation is limited to age 16 and older.  The first class will be Saturday, October 27, at 7:00 p.m. with the silent Russian classic "Battleship Potemkin."

It seems that we either don't have many tea drinkers here at UUCNH, or they don't like or want to buy the Equal Exchange tea.  So, if you would like some, it's now on sale for $1 per box - a 75% savings.  Choose from English Breakfast, Earl Grey or Green.  Hurry-Sale ends soon.

We have our usual range of coffees, in whole bean and drip grind, including decaf and flavored (French Vanilla, Hazelnut Crème, and Toffee Caramel) for $8 for a 12 oz bag

We have Equal Exchange Fair Trade 3.5 oz Chocolate Bars in Milk, Dark and Dark with Almonds (only $4 each or 2 for $7).  Or try making something special with the Cocoa for drinks or baking ($6 per can).

Equal Exchange is now offering Fairly Traded Snacks!  They have 5 oz. packages of Organic, Tamari roasted almonds from California, Roasted, salted Pecans from Georgia and Organic, dried, sweetened Cranberries from Massachusetts.  If you are interested in trying one of these snacks, please let Chris Hill know (see at coffee hour, call or email to chill613@comcast.net)

Yes, we are still recycling during the renovation to the church.  You might have to look around to find things, but we can recycle almost all types of paper products, as long as they go in the proper locations:

Corrugated Cardboard - This no longer goes into the 2nd dumpster next to the trash bin.  A new receptacle has been placed in the parking lot next to the paper bin.  Flatten and put in this new bin. 

Paperboard (non-hollow cardboard, like cereal boxes, etc) goes in the plastic bins - look around for their new location during construction, Luckily we have several folks who regularly go down and drop it off at Construction Junction.  If you travel that way, consider taking a bin there occasionally.

Telephone books - Please use the special dumpsters put out by the phone companies during the distribution of new ones.  If you have a few left, they can come in and be placed in a separate bin or bag near Friendship Hall.  They can also be taken directly to Construction Junction.  Please DON'T mix them in with the paperboard or other items.

And paper - all other kinds, like newspaper, magazines, ad inserts, soft-bound books, etc.  These go in our PaperRetriever bin in the parking lot.  Yes, I know it's been full for a awhile now. They're short on drivers and way behind.  We've been on their list for several weeks.  Hopefully they've picked it up by the time you read this.

If you have any questions or want to volunteer to make a Construction Junction run, please contact Chris Hill at chill613@comcast.net.

    *     BATTERY RECYCLING OPTION

For October: Packaged Potato Mixes

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 October NHCO request is to bring Packaged Potato Mixes to 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 NHCO Donation Station where they can be used to sort food at the food pantry.

             Dates available now for 2007!

The shelter has a list of other 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 at 412-766-9120 or oldjar@aol.com.

The UUCNH Social Action Committee sponsors our participation in this worthwhile program.

NOVEMBER INTERCOM SUBMISSIONS

Happy October!  This is your September notice requesting your October submissions for your November's Intercom.  Got that?  Good.  There'll be a quiz later, if someone explains it to me!  Our next Intercom will be published on October 21, 2007.  That will make Wednesday, October 17, 2007 the DEADLINE for the November Intercom.  If your material isn't in by the deadline, it will NOT be included in the next Intercom unless you have contacted me to make arrangements.

If you email your submissions, please do it IN PLAIN TEXT ONLY; please, do not format the article in any way.  Submissions may be submitted in the office mailbox, or emailed (preferred) to me at WESDFS@nauticom.net.