FROM THE PRESIDENT: JOHN WAGNER
A Repository of Values
This morning is one of the most important mornings of our church year. It's the day most of us make our financial commitment to support our church. I know for some of us it's also a troublesome decision-making time. I'm sure many of us ask ourselves some common questions: "What's an appropriate amount for me to pledge?" and "How do I balance this contribution with the other contributions I make?" And sometimes I know we ask: "Just exactly what am I contributing to when I pledge to the church?"

The answers to these questions won't be the same for each of us. There may be some similarities, but we all have different views and reasons for our particular pledges, just as we have personal reasons for being here. I think it's useful for us to share our reasons, as we've been doing for several weeks, so that we have the benefit of each other's counsel and wisdom. I know for me, this process has been crucially important...

One Sunday several years ago, George Carroll changed my life forever. Not many people get to do that for you, and his place in my heart is assured. In 1991 or 92, George was Canvass Chair. Among other things, that means he's been off the hook long enough, and one of these days we're going to tap his shoulder and ask him to do it again. But that's a speech for another time. On this Sunday of that year, he stood at this podium, and in clear and articulate terms created for me a life defining moment.

He made it possible for me to say that, at the most essential level, it makes no difference to me who the minister of this church is. I don't care who's on the Board of Trustees, it makes no difference whether we're in this beautiful building or not, and it doesn't really even matter who all of you are. And I can say that no matter what trials and tribulations may come, there is nothing I can think of that could make me leave this church. A team of wild Baptists couldn't drag me away.

I've heard some folks in our midst express understandable puzzlement about how to approach the notion of spirituality when you may be undecided about the concept of god, and just what that means. Or even dubious about god. Or, maybe not dubious at all-- maybe quite clear that there just isn't one. I'm in the first group, the "undecided about just what that means" bunch. I'm not dubious, but I remain resolutely puzzled. And yet, George made it possible for me to have no problem with the concept of spirituality. In fact, I can go farther than that. In spite of my puzzlement, I can say that, for me, this is a holy place, and we are a holy gathering. And I don't mean that one bit as a metaphor. I mean: Holy.

I don't know how long it's been since George spoke at any length in front of this gathering, but I suspect there are some of you who are on the edge of your seats hoping that the next speaker is that fire-breathing, life-transforming orator, George Carroll. Well, I'm sorry, George isn't scheduled to speak today. You'll have to take my word for his abilities, but I will tell you what he said. He told me in one short sentence what this church is about, at its most essential, and its most precious. He said, "This church is a repository of values." A repository of values.

Now this particular phrase may not knock you over the way it did me, but I'm still deeply affected by it, so bear with me if you hear a catch in my voice. This is one of those things where I heard the phrase that clarified for me the exact concept that had been flirting with the edge of my consciousness for months. It was a light bulb moment. An aha! moment. Jane and I were new members at the time, and as soon as we heard George say those words-- a repository of values-- we looked at each other and nodded, because we were finally sure about why we were here. We had come home. Of all the good things we had experienced, and all the benefit we found here for our son David, we had finally found the bedrock reason for our hearts to be in this church. This place is the Fort Knox of what we believe. It holds the gold of our morality. It keeps safe the courage we need to try to be good people. It is the holy of holies of the best of our humanity, and our care for each other.

There are many good causes in the world, and UUs are noted for being in the forefront of, and generous to, those causes. Let us always remember: this is where those causes begin. This is where we identify and preserve the foundation of our right relationship with the world. From here is where we can see the good causes, and know which side of the line is ours. This is where we establish and keep the bedrock values of how to be a good person in the world. And this is where we keep them for our children, and our grandchildren, and our long and storied history as a denomination bears this out. It's a history we can view with pride. This is where, in times like these, we can come to believe that, in generations to come, the world will be a more loving, a more peaceful, place.

There are hundreds- thousands, of good causes in the world, and I'm not asking you to be less involved with any of them. I'm hoping to help you answer the question, "How do I balance this contribution with the other contributions I make?" And there are scores- hundreds, of good reasons to contribute to the church- our friendship and community, our sense of safety with each other, our shared spirituality, our children's development and well-being, our impact on the world around us, just to name a few. In telling my story, I hope I've helped you answer the question, "Just exactly what am I contributing to when I pledge to the church?"

We all have different financial capacities, and we all give time and energy and money in the proportion that is best for us. When you ask the question, "What's an appropriate amount for me to pledge?" I suggest that the goal in your giving can be to try to match your gift to your reward. To find that good feeling in your chest that says, "I've done a good thing, and it makes me happy." First and foremost, make your pledge to, and for, yourself.

It takes all of us to have the strength to maintain this storehouse. For me, this church keeps alive the moral order that forms the core of my being, the things I believe in the pit of my soul. A repository of values.

Again, thank you, George. You helped create for me this Holy place.

~ John Wagner, Board President, 687-0757
Previous Messages from the President

An Invitation To Join the Membership Committee!
The membership committee will be meeting the 3rd Thursday of every month at 7pm. This committee takes on a variety of jobs, including welcoming new people. We want to get better at reaching all members of our congregation and we are inviting anyone who might be interested to join our committee. We are known as being the most fun group in the congregation, so if you want to serve your church and get to know folks who know how to laugh, please let us know. Call Jane Wagner 687-0757 for more information.

The Small Group Ministry Program
People come to our churches to be lifted out of the ordinary, to be drawn up from the mundane, and to seek relief from the omnipresent materialism of our culture.
~ ~ ~ Rev. Bob Hill, UU Minister

Almost everyone comes to us looking for spiritual growth, meaning, intimacy, and service. They don’t find it in the crowded coffee hour or the busy schedule of committee meetings. The Small Group Ministry program helps meet these very important longings for deeper connection, caring, and personal development.

In other UU congregations around the country these intentional small groups, sometimes called covenant circles, have strengthened the fabric of the church community and provided a way for people to serve. The program is open to anyone who wishes to participate. The groups will be guided by facilitators who will be trained by the minister and meet regularly with her.

The format of each group when they meet, usually two times a month, includes an opening reading, a time for check-in and sharing, discussion on a topic such as wonder, loss, living simply, worship, personal religious journeys, friendships, etc. with time for feedback and a closing reading. Sessions are about two hours long and meet in people’s homes.

Watch for more information in upcoming Orders of Service and next month’s newsletter. Groups will begin forming later this fall.

Notes from the Facility Council
Labor Day Work Party Successes - about 100 people showed up to spruce up our church home for the coming year. A lot of great projects were accomplished, including: Play Ground renovations (new swing set, toddler play area and new mulch for the ground); RE Rooms were fixed up with new bulletin boards and shelves; The Sanctuary had all of the windows cleaned and the wood was all oiled; and the grass was mowed and the grounds were cleaned as well as numerous other projects that make our church a nicer place to be. A special note of thanks to all of the people who helped plan and carry out the various work projects, especially George Koris, Charlie Eckerson, Jake Wash, Lisa Harrod-Texeira, Rob Castleberry, Candee Cole, Paul Pattison, Gene Okins, Jack Stevens and the rest of the Facility Council.

Play Ground Improvements - Jake Walsh has been heading up the renovation and improvements to the playground. Already he has designed and constructed new play structures for the younger children and a new swing set. Jake has been working with Candee Cole to create an environment that is both safe and fun for our young people to enjoy.

Other Projects- Thanks to George Koris and Charlie Eckerson for installing new locks on the downstairs bathroom. And to Charlie for repairing the plumbing work in the RE rooms.

Lighting Project Finished - Linda Anson and a group of volunteers finished installing new lighting fixtures in all of the RE Rooms. The new fixtures are not only much more attractive than what was in there before but will also help the church conserve energy and lower our power bills. This finishes up a three year long lighting upgrade project that Linda has spearheaded. A special thanks from all of us to Linda and all of the people who helped her with this extremely worthwhile project.

New RE Space - The Facilities Council has taken on a special project to try and enclose some of the space under the breezeway to allow it to be better utilized by the RE program.

"Because it's our Spiritual Home" - First Meeting of the Program Council
On Sunday afternoon, Sept. 15th, thirty-two congregation members came to the first Program Council meeting. Attending were chairs and representatives from the church's committees, councils, affinity groups, and other working groups. Anita Cowling, Board Vice-President, facilitated the meeting in which everyone learned about the full breadth of activities going on around church and about some of the goals and challenges facing different groups.

Representatives described what their groups are planning for this year and also many personal reasons they enjoy doing the work of the church.Attendees were reminded of the importance of planfully reserving and canceling meeting space for their group's activities as well as a few tips on communications among groups and other church leadership.

A brief overview was given of the growing pains that can result fromtransitioning from a"pastoral-sized" church to a "program-sized" one. In a church such as ours, in which you may not know everyone, it's imperative to improve communication between groups, and to be sure that new groups that are added are in keeping with the mission statement of the church itself.

The final part of the meeting was a brainstorming session of future issues for the Council to address, including improving how we can "plug in" new people to existing groups, discussing how space gets allocated, and how groups can work in better ways. The next Council meeting is scheduled for Sunday, October 13, 4 to 6 p.m.

~David Bockoven, Board Member at Large

UUCE Poets will offer a poetry reading after the service on October 20 in the library. Everyone is welcome to attend. Contact Cindy Pitcairn

Honor United Nations Day Special Church Service Oct. 27th
The United Nations Association (UNA-USA) is the nation’s largest foreign policy organization, building public support for constructive United States leadership in a more effective United Nations. In a recent UNA publication, The Interdependent, was this quote from UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan:
“The United Nations needs people around the world to understand its important work, and to become its advocates. . . The leaders and members of United Nations Associations, in the United States and in many other countries, are our partners, and we sincerely appreciate the role you play. With every child we help educate, with every landmine we remove, with every conflict we prevent or peace we keep, and with every human wrong we defeat with human rights, we are making progress together.”

Since 1946 the Unitarian Universalist Association has had a representative at the United Nations, and a non-governmental member of the UNA-USA. Since 1963 there has been a UU United Nations Office (UU-UNO) at the Church Center of the United Nations Building in New York.

As Unitarian Universalists we can take pride in our continued support of the United Nations. ~ Florence Douglas

FOOD FOR LANE COUNTY "FOOD RESCUE NIGHTS" - On First Fridays, we repackage (grocery, dorm, restaurant) food that would have gone to the dumpster. In April 2002, for example, we repackaged over 2000 pounds of Rice Krispies. Wear a sweater and pony tail or cap, and meet at the Food for Lane County warehouse, 6:30-9:30pm, 770 Bailey Hill Road. Over 18, please. Sponsored by our Unitaralist Fun Organization (UFO). DWooldridge 342-8071

OUR WHOLE LIVES (OWL)
For 7th, 8th and 9th graders. Daniel Blades and Kay Crider will be teaching the OWL curriculum this year. This highly acclaimed (and controversial) Unitarian Universalist sexuality education program will be offered for our youth this Fall 2002. The program is value-based, UU written, and provides a safe environment for our youth to ask the questions they need to ask. The 15 week series covers anatomy, but also healthy relationship development. Parent orientation mandatory. This program begins October 22, 2002.

 PNWD - Pacific Northwest District    
Ann Heller, District Executive. The PNWD website is at www.pnwd.uua.org. Look for the PNWD email list too.

   Unitarian Universalist Church in Eugene
PO Box 50338
477 East 40th Avenue   Eugene, Oregon 97405
541/686.2775
office hours 800-1200 M-F

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