|
|
|
Sunday, March 18: Guest Preacher The Rev. Clyde Grubbs |
 |
 |
 |
|
We wanted to give you some advance notice of an exciting upcoming sermon:
Sunday, March 18, 2012, 10:30 am
"Discovering America, Once Again"
Guest Preacher: The Rev. Clyde Grubbs
Liturgist: The Rev. Melanie Morel-Ensminger
In the 15th century, Christian Europe asserted the right to conquer and subjugate the non-Christian peoples of Africa and the Americas. Genocide and slavery left their scars on our nation's soul. Unitarian Universalists are preparing for Justice GA in Phoenix, Arizona. What can we do to re-discover our Land, and build a nation of peace and justice?
 Rev, Melanie's friend Clyde Grubbs is a UU minister who has served our congregations in Indiana, Quebec, Massachusetts, Texas, Florida, and California. He presently serves as Minister-at-Large of the Tuckerman Creative Ministries for Justice & Healing. He has been a member of the Diverse Revolutionary Unitarian Universalist Multicultural Ministries (DRUMM) for 15 years, and is currently DRUUMM co-president. Clyde has served on the UU Ministers Association executive team as its portfolio holder for Anti-Racism, Anti-Oppression, and Multiculturalism. He was recently in New Orleans as part of the UUA Board of Trustees, where he serves at-large.
Clyde honors his Native American heritage (Texas Cherokee), which informs his spiritual understanding and practice, and his anti-racist and anti-oppressive commitment. He has worked for peace, justice and equality since he was in the Unitarian Universalist youth movement, Liberal Religious Youth, back in the day. We are delighted to welcome this warrior for justice to our pulpit. |
|
Gillespie Breakfast, February 11, 2012 |
|
|
|
|
The Gillespie Memorial Community Breakfast presents: Big Oil in Louisiana: Make ‘em Pay!
Speakers: Anne Rolfes, Founding Director, and Iris Brown Carter, Community Liaison, both of the Louisiana Bucket Brigade
When: Saturday February 11, 2012, 9:30am to 12:00pm
Where: First Unitarian Universalist Church, 5212 South Claiborne Av. New Orleans (Enter via posted signs at Soniat and South Claiborne)
Schedule: 9:30am – Coffee, juice and light breakfast pastries
10:00am – Progressive social justice community networking
11:00am – Keynote presentation
$3.00 suggested donation. For more information, contact Kit Senter: (504) 866-8257 or kitsenter@yahoo.com. Held every second Saturday of each month, the Gillespie Memorial Community Breakfast has been a project of the First Unitarian Universalist Church Social Justice Committee since May 1983. http://www.thecommunitybreakfast.org/ |
|
February Letter from our Director of Religious Education |
|
|
|
Dear Families and Friends of RE,
Mardi Gras is here with the spirit of radical hospitality. In the Oscar Flowers RE Wing and beyond, this spirit is central to our work of building a multigenerational faith community.
In late January, many members and friends joined together for our first RE sponsored all ages Potluck and Game Night of 2012. We shared food, conversation, and played games new and old. Look out for announcements of another night in the next few months.
The RE Committee is also excited to be supporting our congregational fundraising efforts to support our congregation's ministry to all ages. Starting on Sunday February 12th, our own DivaChef and RE Committee Co-Chair Jyaphia will be kicking off our Pancake Breakfast fundraising at 9:30am. Come early to share a delicious breakfast with others before feeding your spiritual needs at our Worship Service. RE is also planning on selling Equal Exchange fair trade coffees and other products as part of Equal Exchange's partnership with the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee. This great project will support the cooperatives across the globe alongside our congregational needs.
Finally, on February 12th we will be holding our second Children's Chapel of the year. Through ritual, music, readings, and more an all-ages group will explore the spiritual meaning of radical hospitality and our carnival season.
As always, if you have any questions or comments about RE, please do not hesitate to contact me. I am always available to talk about our program and the ministry of Religious Education.
In spirit,
Lydia |
|
Next FULL Group Meeting Feb. 7 |
|
|
|
|
Feeling Ultimate Life & Love (FULL) Group
Tuesday, February 7, 2012, 6:30 pm
Large Classroom
The spiritual discipline will be to bring to the group a poem or song lyric (or portion of a poem or song lyric) that has meant a lot to you, or that has helped you through a difficult time in your life. If you choose to bring a recording of your poem or song, please bring it in a form that can be played on a laptop, or as an MP3 through a dock with a speaker.
Examples: "What a long, strange trip it's been" The Grateful Dead, "Truckin'"
"I've looked at love from both sides now, from give and take, and still somehow, it's love's illusion I recall, I really don't know love at all." Buffy St. Marie, "Both Sides Now"
"It matters not how strait the gate, how charged with punishments the scroll, I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul." William Ernest Henley, "Invictus"
The group will be self-led for this session, as Rev. Melanie will be leading the Worship Team meeting at the same time in another room. Everyone who's ever been inspired or encouraged by a poem or a song is invited! |
|
UUA President reflects on recent trip to New Orleans |
|
|
|
|
The UUA Board of Trustees meeting was held in New Orleans this year. After returning home, Rev. Peter Morales wrote a blog post about his third visit to the city post-Katrina:
"The healing is not yet finished. However, it may be easier for an outsider who comes every couple of years or so to see progress more clearly. The story of our congregations in the New Orleans area is a story of resilience. Along the way they have engaged in important social justice work in the community. Our brothers and sisters in New Orleans deserve our admiration and continued support."
Read the full article. |
|
Valentine's Day Fun with CEL! |
|
|
|
|
 The Center for Ethical Living and Social Justice Renewal, of which First Church is a proud partner, is hosting a Valentine's Day Dinner and Music fundraiser. There will also be a silent auction. Think massages, jewelry, hotel stays, etc. Come with your partner/lover or a good friend. Kathleen North is selling tickets after Church the next 2 Sundays - contact her if you have any questions, at 504-994-2107 or kathleen2north@hotmail.com. Please support CEL and have a good time doing it!
The info: Celebrate Love- A Valentine’s Day Event with dinner and music for lovers and friends. Enjoy delicious cuisine and Jazz vocalist Cindy Scott. Treat your valentine at the silent auction held during cocktails.
Where: 6690 Fleur de Lis Drive, New Orleans, Louisiana (in Lakeview)
When: Tuesday, February 14 @6pm
Suggested Donation: $30 per person- includes dinner, music and a glass of champagne. Vegan option is available.
Donations (items or services) to the Silent Auction would be very helpful. Also, we are looking too for grills and screens/dividers. We won't need them till the day before. |
|
Need a ride to NSUU for Resistance & Transformation class? |
|
|
|
|
The "Resistance & Transformation" UUA adult ed class is now moving to North Shore UU for the rest of the sessions. Leslie Runnels is offering a ride for South Shore folks who want to attend (whether you have been to previous sessions or not.) Thanks, Leslie, for being so generous!
The next session is February 4th - so please let her know if you want to ride together - she can fit herself plus four others. Contact her at 504-259-5317 or leslierunnels@yahoo.com
Leslie is also hoping that on one of these trips we can go to the Global Wildlife Center and see the animals (she loves the giraffes!!), or stop at the tea and scones shop for a treat.... |
|
"Exploring the UUniverse of Women's Spirituality" Conference - Feb. 2012 |
|
|
|
|
 SouthWest Unitarian Universalist Women (SWUUW) are holding their annual conference February 24-26, 2012, with speaker Meg Barnhouse. The conference will be held in the beautiful Hilton hotel overlooking Clear Lake and across from NASA Space Center. It is located 25 miles south of downtown Houston, 17 miles from Houston’s Hobby Airport and is a perfect place to relax, rejuvenate, reconnect and join us in Exploring the UUniverse of Women’s Spirituality.
Contact convener Lynn Young at conference@swuuw.org if you have any questions. Details can also be found on their website and their Facebook page as plans progress.
|
|
Looking Ahead to Carnival . . . |
|
|
|
|
Due to historically low attendance, increased traffic and parking challenges, and the lure of all-day parades, the Worship Team has decided to cancel worship on Sunday, February 19 (Bacchus Sunday) ONLY. Please take note, and enjoy your day. We hope to see everyone on Sunday, February 12 and February 26. |
|
|
|
|
Renovation of the church building to support this work is ongoing. Contact the church office to learn how you can help in this effort. This includes our plan to share the First Church Community Kitchen with our partner The New Orleans 
Unitarian Universalism is a liberal religious tradition that combines Unitarianism and Universalism. Unitarianism began with belief in the unity of God and later went on to stress the importance of rational thinking, a direct relationship with God, and the humanity of Jesus. The central belief of Universalism is universal salvation.
For our family, FUUNO is about history and tradition—about being part of Unitarianism, which has been around for centuries, and being a part of a congregation that has been meeting for more than 175 years! As a father, this church is about setting a religious foundation for my kids—they learn about worship, friendship and sharing.
Our minister was born in New Orleans in 1952 to parents active in organized labor. Influenced by her activist parents, from an early age she was interested in politics and social justice. She began attending First Church in the early 1980s and was ordained during the church’s 160th anniversary, February 26, 1993. She has served in various congregations around the world.
