NUUSLETTER MAY 2012

Volume 13, Number 11 - May 2012

We Are a Welcoming Congregation

Upcoming Services

May 6 - 10 am Rev. Suzanne Wasilczuk

May 20 - 10 am Rev. Dr. Bobbie Groth -  Resistance and Relationship:  Growing Up UU in the Civil Rights Era

June 3 - 10 am Laura Erickson, speaking for the birds

June 17 - 10 am Cathy Peterson

Events

May 15 - 4:30 pm Community Dinner at St. Matthias

May 19 - 10 am Annual Meeting at NUUF followed by lunch

Adult R.E.

May 13 - 10 am The New Testament–An Overview. Paul–Our Earliest Christian Author

May 27 - 10 am The Pauline Epistles. The Problem of Pseudonymity

June 10 - 10 am The Beginnings of the Gospel Traditions. The Earliest Gospels

June 24 - 10 am The Other Gospels. Apocalypticism and the Apocalypse of John

Message from the President

I am preparing this message in mid-April, as Tom and I will soon be heading south on our annual spring journey: a couple of concerts, time with family and friends . . . and to the Central Midwest District Assembly.

This year’s DA meetings have two events of particular interest to me. The keynote speaker on Friday night will be William Schultz, past president of the UUA, past president of Amnesty International and current president of the UUSC. We’ve heard him speak before. His passion for the work the UUSC does makes me proud to support that organization. The other event of particular note will be the business meeting on Saturday morning (The business meeting?? What’s with her??) when we will receive an update on the merger of the CMwD with two other districts to form the Midwest Region. I understand that that merger is expected to happen July 1, 2013. I hope to come back with a fuller idea of how this merger will affect us--to the extent that it’s known. Look for a report on these meetings in the June newsletter.

It’s also that time of year for NUUF’s Annual Meeting to be held on Saturday, May 19, beginning at 10 am. We’ll be electing new officers, voting on the disbursement of our endowment funds and passing the budget for next year. I’m pleased to report that between reasonable budget requests from committees and your generosity, the board is recommending a balanced budget that fully funds all the committees’ requests. That hasn’t happened in a few years. I’m also pleased to report that the Endowment Committee is recommending funding support for three projects: the Freedom Fund, Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin and Past Time Adult Day Center in Minocqua. As you will read in the Endowment Committee’s annual report, virtually all the other projects proposed will be supported either through the budget or other fund raisers. I know, I know, annual meetings often aren’t all that exciting, but they are important. We couldn’t do the other, more interesting, spiritual work of the congregation without the budget and the officers. So, it’s important that you attend or at least turn in your proxy. I will be sending out the official notice of the meeting in early May. Oh, yes, we’ll be having lunch as well. So I know you don’t want to miss that. We are UUs after all.

Tom and I are also finishing our plans to attend General Assembly in Phoenix in late June. This should be a very different experience from past years, since it will be a “Justice GA.” I hope to come back with a better understanding of the complexities of the immigration issues and, equally important, some ideas for just and equitable ways forward. Even better would be ideas that could actually happen in our fragmented political times.

The church year is winding down, but there’s still much to do. I hope you can join me as we wrap up another busy year at NUUF. —Elinore

Offsite Delegates Welcome for the GA

The board encourages you to be an offsite delegate for the 2012 General Assembly. NUUF is entitled to two delegates and an alternate. You would be fully reimbursed the registration fee of $100. All you need is access to high speed internet and a phone line. You could do this from home or at NUUF. The main plenary sessions are on Saturday afternoon, 6/23, and Sunday afternoon, 6/24. This is an excellent opportunity to learn how your Association operates and hear what other UUs from around the country are thinking.

For more information, please visit this web site: http://www.uua.org/offsitega or contact me. We need to get you appointed and registered by June 8 so you can participate in preliminary training. So, please let me know no later than June 1 if you are interested. —Elinore

Adult RE Course on the History of the Bible

We are now starting the course The History of the Bible: The Making of the New Testament Canon which is taught by Professor Bart D. Ehrman, currently the James A. Gray Distinguished Professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

This is a twelve lecture course that will cover six sessions.

May 13. The New Testament–An Overview

Paul–Our Earliest Christian Author

May 27. The Pauline Epistles

The Problem of Pseudonymity

June 10. The Beginnings of the Gospel Traditions

The Earliest Gospels

June 24. The Other Gospels

Apocalypticism and the Apocalypse of John

July 8. The Copyists Who Gave Us Scripture

Authority in the Early Church

July 22. The Importance of Interpretation

When Did the Canon Get Finalized?

NATH Update

In April, Rich Uspell and Laurie Figueroa teamed up to provide meals for the folks at Frederick Place. They served BBQ pork, potato rolls, coleslaw, beans, homemade mac ’n’ cheese and pickles. Dessert was strawberries and angel food cake. For dinner the following day, Laurie and Rich prepared chicken wild rice soup and beef stew, homemade bread, green salad and rice crispy treats.

Community Dinner Tuesday, May 15 - Please Contribute!

Our last participation was in January, and the turn-out of dishes and helpers was excellent even if the adverse weather may have kept away some diners. It’s probably safe to say that May 15 will bring out a high number of people hoping to sit down and share a meal. So let’s repeat our January performance and do our part as members of LAMA The Fellowship is counted on to bring 10 dishes (main or side) and 2 desserts. Please plan to contribute a dish and/or your time. If you aren’t available on the 15th, we welcome cash donations to purchase ham or a roast. Volunteers and dishes arrive at St. Matthias around 4:30 pm. Serving begins promptly at 5:00, and clean-up is done before 6:30. Contact -Pat Bickner at 715-356-9130 or send an email message to bickner@gmx.com and let me know what you are bringing. And Thank You!

Warm for Winter

Please continue to bring contributions to Warm for Winter to the fellowship. Warm coats, hats, boots, mittens and bedding will be available for families in need at the Friendly Village in Rhinelander starting in September.

Festival of Flavors Church Basement Supper Contest

Registrations are being accepted for the Wisconsin Church Basement Supper Contest, which is held during the Festival of Flavors in Eagle River August 25-26.

Teams of 4 are being sought to produce a sample buffet typical of a church supper. First place prize is $2,000 in Trig’s gift cards good toward the purchase of food for the church or a charity of their choice. Second place is small kitchen wares of about $200 value. Third place is nonperishable items for the pantry of about $100 value.

Judging will be based on menu creativity, presentation, recipe accuracy and clarity, taste, team spirit and creative use of Wisconsin products. All groceries must be purchased at a Trig’s store and all foods must be made with at least 50% Wisconsin ingredients.

A printed menu, recipes identifying the Wisconsin ingredients, a group photo of the team in costume and entry form must be submitted to the Festival of Flavors by June 1, 2012.

Teams will be notified of acceptance by July 1. Participating teams must travel to Eagle River to participate in the contest on August 25.

If you are willing to jump into the ring, please contact Laurie Figueroa at 715-439-0600. We know we have some excellent cooks in our fellowship. Let’s show ’em what we can do.

Harvey at Nicolet Next Two Weekends

New member, Rich Upsel, will be appearing in the Nicolet College production of “Harvey” on May 4-6 and May 10-13. Ticket info is available at www.nicoletlive.com. Who knew we had a thespian among our members! Rich, break a leg!

Club Valhalla May 19

Avant-garde theater is coming to Minocqua, Saturday, May 19 at 7 pm, in the gym at the Minocqua Community Building. This is an encore production of the Xperimental Theatre of the University of Minnesota.

You are invited to a theatrical dance party at the end of the world. The valkyries have gathered the warriors to reap their reward and party at Club Valhalla till the eve of the last battle - and it’s a rave with rage. Our cast and artistic team have collaborated to create this action-packed meditation on the experience and psyche of the warrior, spanning ancient mythology to current events. A dance floor becomes a battlefield beyond time and place as 22 warriors struggle to reconcile the glory and horror of war. So get your glam on and get ready to dance, to witness, and to be a part of our exploration of the meaning of “duty, honor and sacrifice.”

From a letter to the editor of the Minneapolis Star Tribune, March 12, 2012: “…a master collaboration of actors and teachers interpreting the social meaning of our times. There are many ways to tell the story of recent American hubris but few of them deal effectively with the feelings of aspiring soldiers and their subsequent dissolution into mindlessness and disability told from the perspective of thoughtful emerging adults. Their story is told in dance, acrobatics, and narrative. With breathtaking choreography and the lines covering every aspect of our American tragedy of war from patriotism and loyalty to desensitization, murder, rape, and madness. Despite the horrors, but because of the energy and insight of this performance, Club Valhalla was uplifting. We left this performance in Minneapolis knowing that the players and audience alike, will never engage in war unless it becomes essential to their survival. Bravo to the cast, crew, and creative leadership team. They remind us that theater is one of the purest forms of the social commentary so much needed in these trying times.”

With the help of Kym Longhi of the U of M Leadership Team, Tara and Jerry Woolpy are sponsoring this performance here for their love of great theater. Donations of $10 each accepted at the door or they can be mailed to Valhalla, c/o Jerry Woolpy, PO Box 483, Minocqua, WI 54548. The show begins with dancing and the audience is invited to dance along with the cast. High schoolers will be admitted free provided they dance with the cast at the beginning of the show.

Please let us know that you will be attending by email to Jerryw@earlham.edu

Vegetarian Recipe Corner

Bean and Veggie Wrap

Low-cal, low-fat, low cholesterol, high fiber, yay! 4 Servings

4 fat-free flour tortillas (6-8 inches in diameter)

2 cups sliced mushrooms (5 ounces)

1 medium onion, cut lengthwise in half, then cut crosswise into thin slices

1 can (15 ounces) black beans, rinsed and drained

4 cups fresh spinach leaves

1/2 cup shredded reduced-fat Cheddar cheese

Heat tortillas as directed on package. While tortillas are heating, spray 10-inch nonstick skillet with cooking spray; heat over medium heat. Cook mushrooms and onion in skillet about 4 minutes, stirring frequently, until onion is crisp-tender. Stir in beans and heat through. Sitr in spinach. Remove from heat.

Divide bean mixture among tortillas. Sprinkle with cheese. Fold one end of each tortilla up about 1 inch over filling; fold right and left sides over folded end, overlapping. Fold remaining end down.

Nutrition Facts: Per Serving — Calories: 275; Total Fat: 2g;

Cholesterol: 5mg; Sodium 860mg; Carbohydrate 57g (Dietary fiber 10g); Protein 18g. Percent daily value: Vitamin A 26%; Vitamin C 10%; Calcium 16%; Iron 12%. Diet Exchange: 3 starch; 1/2 very lean meat; 2 vegetable.

MILESTONES

NUUF and NEWSLETTER INFORMATION

Northwoods Unitarian Universalist Fellowship

P.O. Box 1881

Woodruff, WI 54568-1881

https://nuuf.com/joomla4

Elinore Sommerfeld, President

715-385-2407

esommerf@aol.com

The NUUSLetter is published monthly.

Next Deadline: May 27, 2012 Please send submissions to Pat Bickner at bickner@gmx.com.

For distribution of announcements between newsletters or email/address corrections, contact Candy Sorensen at sorencan@yahoo.com.