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February
2012
HOLIDAY GENEROSITIES Over the holidays we participated in the Guest At Your Table and Mitten Tree programs for the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee and collected cash donations for Human Solutions. Chalice Lighters! Our Pacific Northwest District supports its congregations with the Chalice Lighter Program. Each participant agrees to send $15 up to three times per year to pay for special projects. Each congregation that receives the $20,000 to $30,000 donations agrees to keep 30% or more of it's membership enrolled in the Chalice Lighter Program. Eastrose has an application pending to help us upgrade our internet presence, to reach out to young adults more effectively, and to do improvements to the 179th Avenue house to make it more useable. We need YOU to sign up to be a Chalice Lighter! It takes less than two minutes to do at the pnwd.org website (under “Connections”). We also have mail-in forms in the lobby. Ask our ambassador Sue Aschim for more information. From the DRE Search Committee Eastrose is continuing in the process of finding and hiring a new Director of Religious Education (DRE). We want to update everyone once again on where we are at in the process, and what our time frame is for finding the right fit for this vital position at Eastrose. Following guidelines developed by the UUA, we have held important conversations with our minister and with our outgoing DRE to get their perspectives and reflections on the conditions and needs of the congregation and of our RE ministry. We will hold the third and final of these important talks in the chapel on Sunday, January 29th after the service. This conversation is open to all teachers, parents, church leaders, and anyone with experience and interest in the RE ministry at Eastrose. We are also preparing now to post the position and receive applications for about a month. The Acting Director of Religious Education can be one of the applicants. Then we will hold interviews as soon as we can schedule them and present our final selection to the board. The committee feels this process will help us to achieve our goal of finding the best candidate for our needs. We hope you will stay in touch with us and ask any further questions you might have as we proceed. Thank you, Sandra Sakurai, Katie Ten Eyck, Ron Randall Sharing the Bounty – February Sisters of the Road The February Sharing the Bounty will support the Sisters of the Road cafe which literally allows all people to dine with dignity. They are committed to non-violence and human rights. In December we donated to the Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon to pay our annual dues working together with 16 denominations to improve the lives of Oregonians through community ministry, inter-religious dialogues, environmental ministry and public policy advocacy. Orientation to Eastrose Fellowship for Visitors and Curious Folks After the service on February 12 Reverend Barbara Stevens will share her insights and experience of Eastrose Fellowship and Unitarian Universalism. Meet in the back of the chapel after getting a cup of coffee or tea. Coffee and Tea Hospitality! Cookers and clean-up workers are NEEDED for nearly all Sundays – Thank you – if YOU can help. please sign up in the hallway. Instruction will be provided! Snowcap Recap I estimate that the Eastrose Snowcap barrel is full or nearly full about three weeks out of each month, so our congregation has donated approximately 39 barrels of clothing, food and supplies to help support our neighbors through tough times. Hats off to all of you! Keep up the good work. Thank you! Cynthia Hopkins Universalist Recovery Church February 19, 2012 4 p.m. at Eastrose Fellowship An experimental service for people who acknowledge their brokenness and are searching for hope, healing, and wholeness. We seek a church for acceptance: we believe transformation comes out of acceptance (if you make the choice to “recover”) honoring the gift of brokenness. Contact Reverend Barbara Stevens for more information. Paul's Letters – the Practical Bible Tuesday night, March 6 at 6 p.m. join with Reverend Maynard and others to view a DVD talk on “Paul's Epistles.” This is part of the practical side of the Christian Bible: a look at the roots of the form Christianity took after Jesus' death. We begin sharing a simple potluck dinner and then view and discuss – all are welcome! Bring food for about six people. We'll have coffee and tea. BOOK GROUP NEWS – EASTROSE BOOK GROUP We sure have fun when we meet each month on the third Thursday of the month at 6:00 p.m. for munchies and discussion. JOIN US! On February 19 we will discuss Monthly Brown-Bag with Rev. David and others - February 2 and March 1 (leap year!) -- Gather in the Thatcher Room for a brown bag lunch on the first Thursday each month at 12 Noon in the Thatcher Room. Bring your own lunch (and nibbles to share, if you want to). Eastrose will provide hot water and coffee. We talk about politics, peace, people or poetry or what moves us. All are welcome. Diving Deep: Conversations – Next on February 12 – 7 p.m. with David Maynard and Sandy Sakurai. This is a small group meeting for Forming deeper, more intimate relationships; Sharing spiritual struggles and growth; Deepening religious commitment; Ministering to each other; Learning from each other. Stop by! Parents and Friends of Lesbians And Gays PFLAGChapter meeting at Eastrose – new coordinators needed. Our chapter is inactive right now until a new coordinator(s) steps forward. Contact David Maynard if you can help. “A Course in Miracles” (ACIM) study group, led by the Hofmann-Smiths and offered to Eastrosarians and the community at large, meets weekly at 7:30 pm on Monday evenings. A “Passage Meditation” group, which follows the teachings of Sri Eknath Easwaran, meets at 7:15 pm weekly on Tuesday evenings. It is led by Jude Watson and offered to Eastrosarians and the community at large. |