CURRENT RIPPLES
HEADWATERS UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST FELLOWSHIP
THE CONGREGATION THAT SEEKS TRUTH, PRACTICES LOVE AND CELEBRATES LIFE!!!
May 2008 PO Box 1906, Bemidji, MN, 56619
www.paulbunyan.net/users/neen/
WORSHIP SERVICE AT 10:00 AM
BEMIDJI SENIOR CENTER, 216 THIRD ST NW

May 4: Pilgrimages: Tapping Spirituality through Travel: A Guided Meditation--Janie Franz, freelance writer and Guest Minister ordained through the Universal Life Church. Janie's singer/songwriter husband will bless us with special music.  Janie has done presentations throughout the region on Faith/Religious Traditions,  MindBody or Complementary Practices , Spirituality and several other topics.
Snacks--Nina Rudnick Coordinator--Susan Nokleby

May 11: What I Believe: A Cross Section of HUUF Members
This service is the culmination of our Articulating Our UU Faith Serie. Please join a penel consisting of several memers of HUUF as they share what they believe for an intersting and rewarding discussion.
Snacks--Marion Janikowski Coordinator--Paul Kivi
HUUF Spring Highway Clean-Up begins 2:00 PM, lunch at 12:30
Potluck (open to all!) at Kivi’s place around 12:30 to 1. Directions to Kivis: Highway 2 west to Solway, turn right on County 5 in beautiful downtown Solway, go 1/2 mile, then left on Old Jefferson, go 1/2 mile, then right on Lammers Road, go 1 mile on Lammers until you see a big house on the left, fire number 7609.

The Clean-up should take an hour and a half or less if we get 12 people or more which is this year's goal. Bags provided, bring your own gloves (we'll have a few extra pairs.)

May 18: Goods and Service Auction and Potluck, 10: 00 AM (see article below)
Everyone is invited. Bring your money!! Coordinator--Marcy LaCroix

SUMMER POTLUCKS--see detailed directions on web site
June 29--Karen Kimbrough @ 4:00 pm--2902 Bixby Ave NE, turn towards the lake on 29th Street at the Lutheran church.
July 20--Neen Lillquist, 1:00 p.m.--45724 County 45, Laporte
August ?--Dann Siems, 2403 La Terra Lane SW

SAVE AUGUST 29-30-31 FOR OUR FIRST LUNETARIAN WEEKEND
Camping at Lake Bemidji State Park sponsored by Ellie and Bill Nelson

Thank You HUUFers
2008 Annual Meeting Closure
by Co-President, Barb Houg
 
Leading services that touch our souls
Launching projects, based on our goals

Sending cards and giving hugs
Sweeping floors and washing mugs

Moving tables around and around
Sorting chairs – orange, black and brown

Giving children kernels of wisdom and truth
Making truffles and taking trips with youth

Keeping track of dollars and cents
Appeasing those from whom the fellowship rents 

Playing songs that reach our heart
Dreaming dreams and then helping them start

Sharing our feelings, our sorrows, our views.
Month after month, publishing our news

Organizing ways to care and give,
To help the community in which we live 

Making visitors feel that they fit in
Greeting all who come with a name tag and a grin

Giving the wee ones what they need
Providing goodies on which to feed

All these things and so much more
That keep open the Headwaters UU door

So thank you for your time, money and talents
That gives us all the opportunity for balance.

Hmmm wish I could think of a more profound way to end
Think I’ll give this to Alena to mend.

Dan Houg Cameo
Life takes many twists, turns, and loopbacks and it is with pleasure I find myself returning to the HUUF. My religious background was as a fallen Lutheran after graduation from BSU and most recently my spiritual U-Turn was as a fallen Unitarian, if one can even fall off the floor. I'd joined HUUF sometime in the late 80's, served a stint on the Board as a terrible secretary, and enjoyed the fellowship of many of the still present folks.
As job stresses increased and my own ability to contribute waned, I attended less and eventually asked to be taken off the books of HUUF, not through any dissatisfaction with philosophy or direction but merely wanting to save the annual national (and district) dues my name was costing HUUF as an official but largely absent member. So the journey of life continues and I now find myself in a job I enjoy as the station Engineer for KAXE, the kids are growing and have turned out cool, and in what can only be explained as a reverse-Sampson complex, I have more energy for the good things in life as my hair continues to fall out.
In my heart, i never really left!------dan

2008 Goods and Services Auction
Every week until the final service in May, be creative and offer items/services for the auction. Ideas include poetry, plants, dinners/lunches/food in general, canoeing, lessons, artwork, cleaning, organizing, wine, etc. The popular Bluegrass, Beer and BBQ is returning. Maybe some new ideas will emerge!
On Sundays at HUUF, the auction items will be set out on the tables and people can start bidding. Don't be afraid to out bid anyone! Look for new items to be offered each week. Sign up at anytime with new ideas. There will also be a sheet to sign up for things you would be willing to bid on.
At the last service, Paul will act as the auctioneer, Alan as the clerk, and Sue as a pretty poor excuse for Vanna. Last year, we raised almost $3,000 and had a lot of fun doing it! Don't miss out!
Any questions, contact Sue Nokleby.

 Religious Education Fundraiser! 
Hanging Plant Sale after service on May 4th!
Come buy a beautiful hanging flowering plant basket for $15 and help support our  HUUF children's summer camp.  These baskets make a perfect gift for mother's day and  add a touch of beauty to your yard! For more information contact Terry Anderson at 444-4377.

Tax Rebate
A lively discussion regarding how other UU congregations have determined special purposes for donations coming from the tax rebate has been taking place on the UUA Leaders site. Have you considered HUUF? I could set up way to account for how much we could collect for our HUUF community. Neen, Treasurer


NEWSLETTER/WEB SITE CHANGE OVER
My thanks to Rebecca Hoffman and Brodie Karger who will begin publishing the newsletter after this my final edition. Please send any materials to them for future issues. brcq@charter.net Thanks, Neen

HUUF Board Mtg Summary, April, 2008
Neen presented the current income and expense report and proposed budget for 2008/2009. Items were reviewed and a few minor revisions suggested. One member had asked if there could be a way to donate to the Food Shelf through HUUF so that recognition could be given to HUUF for those donations. All board members present approved adding Bemidji Food Shelf donations as a line item in the HUUF financial records. Individuals wishing to make a donation to Food Shelf through HUUF can make checks payable to HUUF and specify in the memo area that the money be directed to the Food Shelf. The forms used to record the weekly income will include space for these donations so that they are electronically tracked & recorded for tax purposes.

Annual Meeting – April 20, 2008 
President’s Report - Barb Houg
1. Most Goals and Objectives from about 8 yrs ago have mostly been accomplished.  We need to continue to sustain these accomplishments.
2. Last summer we had a Strategic Planning meeting. One theme was to keep what we have and go deeper. The main focus was to improve our RE program.  We have made good progress on that and need to maintain it.
3. A main goal for the new year will be to make significant progress on obtaining our own space.
4. We need to Improve our responsiveness to each other’s needs during hard times and life transitions.
5. We want to continue to offer quality Sunday services. This came up repeatedly from feedback during Stewardship visits.
Treasurer’s Report (Neen Lillquist)
Neen gave an overview of the current and proposed budget. From now on cash donations to the food shelf can go through the HUUF account. 
Jon Seibold asked if could we facilitate donations to other charities through HUUF?  Dereck warned that some charities may not be appropriate. Molly/Paul moved that if a member would like to make a donation to an organization in the name of HUUF such an action shall first go to the Social Justice Committee for review and and then forwarded to the Board for approval.
Trish asked about documenting in-kind donations such as time and materials.  Neen will work on a form to document this.
The budget for mileage needs to be addressed.  Barb asked the Worship Committee to determine a travel expense policy.
Current balances Checking 6,660
Savings 5,000
Building fund 41300

This year we have a programatic budget which was approved as presented.

EXPENSES
Building cost & fund 38%
Education 25%
Worship 15%
Dues 16%
Administration 6%

INCOME Pledges 48%
Building cost & fund 23%
Basket Offering 11%
Goods & Serv Auction 9%
Interest 6%
Donations 2%
RE Camp 1%

Stewardship Committee Report
Last week’s tally totals were $12000 in general fund and $6400 in building fund. 
RE Committee--flower sale May 4th.
Membership--–Will combine with Stewardship. Committee needs help and energy, combining may help.  Would like to get some activities going next year.  This year the committee has focused on greeting and welcoming new members.
Worship – passed out survey. Would like to add music coordinator.  Number of worship coordinators this year was quite small.  Concern about announcements. Maybe new communications team can help with this.
Social Justice--meets every third Sunday.  Had to turn down many activities this year due to a lack of member involvement, however, food shelf, highway cleanup, Take back the Nite and peace vigil were well attended.
Leadership – have a great group of candidates for Board and committees. We celebrate the first time that Committee Chairs have been nominated!!
Caring – sent out survey,
Facilities--Have been looking at buildings. Meeting with WeCare from Bagley to look at Anne Street building. We have a realtor looking for us. We have not heard an answer from the Senior Center about next year.
Goods and Services Auction
We broke a record last year. Let’s do it again!! Passed around signup sheets. This takes place at the last service May 18, 10:00 am at Lake Bemidji State Park. Passes will be covered by HUUF.

Election of Board of Trustees
President:Alan Goldberg (1-year term)
Secretary:Luke Rutten (1-year term)
Treasurer:Neen Lillquist (1-year term)
Trustee:Valerie Field (2 year term)
Trustee: Darin Miller (1 year left on 2- year term)
Trustee:Roger Swenson (2 year term)
Trustee:Barb Houg (1 year)

Election of Committee Chairs
Caring: Carol Seibold
Communications: (Newsletter and Web Site) Brodie
Karger and Rebecca Hoffman
Facilities: Sue Nokleby
Finance: Neen Lillquist
Capital Campaign: Neen
Leadership: Jane McKelvy
Membership: Tricia Andrews
Canvass: merge with Membership
RE: Jules Rubey
Social Action/Environment:
Worship: Paul Kivi and Karen Kimbrough

BEMIDJI CHORALE SPRING CONCERT
On Sunday, May 11 at 7 p.m., the Bemidji Chorale will premiere “Yet Again Spring,” an original composition celebrating the community’s excitement when spring comes to its northern lakes each year. The performance, held at the Bemidji High School Auditorium is part of Minnesota Voices, a statewide commissioning project by the American Composers Forum that connects composers with community choruses throughout Minnesota’s commemoration of the Sesquicentennial. The concert will include a wide variety of music, from the Shaker song “A Gift to Be Simple” to Franz Schubert’s “Du Bist Die Ruh. Following the concert, everyone is invited to enjoy an ice cream social provided by the Chorale members. There is no admission charge. A freewill offering is appreciated. For more information see www.bemidjichorale.org

ASTRONOMY DVD COURSE
I have a wonderful course from The Teaching Company www.TEACH12.com of 96 lectures with great illustrations on CDs and accompanying booklet outlines called “Understanding the Universe: An Introduction to Astronomy” by Professor Alex Filippenko, Univ of CA, Berkeley. I have learned SO much to help me understand the most recent discoveries and the powerful reasons why we need to understand the universe. I would really like to share this with anyone who is interested. I have completed over 50 sessions so the first 5 parts are all available. Just let me know.
neen@paulbunyan.net

YAHOO ADDRESSES
All of you who have Yahoo addresses, please be advised that your e-mails always bounce back for several hours or days so you may be late in receiving up-to-date information. Neen

Received from Lynn Baum’s Brother
TIPS ON PUMPING GAS
My line of work for 31 years has been in petroleum, so here are some tricks to get more of your money's worth for every gallon of gas.

Only fill up in the early morning when the ground temperature is coldest. Storage tanks are buried below ground and the colder the ground the more dense the gasoline. When it gets warmer gasoline expands. In the petroleum business, the specific gravity and the temperature of the gasoline, diesel, or ethanol play an important role. A 1-degree rise in temperature is a big deal.

When you fill up do not squeeze the nozzle trigger to fast mode. The trigger has three stages: low, middle and high. You should be pumping on low, thereby, minimizing the vapors that are created. All hoses have a vapor return. If you are pumping on the fast rate some of the gas becomes vapor. Those vapors are sucked back into the underground storage tank so you're getting less for your money.

One of the most important tips is to fill up when your gas tank is HALF FULL or HALF EMPTY. The more gas you have in your tank the less air occupying the empty space. Gasoline evaporates faster than you can imagine. Gasoline storage tanks have an internal floating roof. This roof serves as zero clearance between the gas and the atmosphere so it minimizes the evaporation. Where I work every truck load is temperature compensated so that every gallon is actually the exact amount, but the service stations do not have temperature compensation at the pumps.

Another reminder, if there is a gasoline truck pumping into the storage tanks when you stop to buy gas, DO NOT fill up--most likely the gas is being stirred up and you might pick up some of the dirt that normally settles on the bottom. Hope this will help you get the most value for your money.

WHERE TO BUY GAS-- If you may want to know where it is coming from, the information is available from the Department of Energy and each company is required to state where they get their oil from and how much they are importing.

 CALENDAR
May 4, 8:15 AM--Board
May 6 --Soup Kitchen, 3-5 & 5-7
Apr, 2009, PSD Conference, Duluth, MN
June, 2008--GA, Ft. Lauderdale, FL
June, 2009,--GA, Salt Lake City, UT
June, 2010--GA, Minneapolis

CURRENT RIPPLES
HEADWATERS UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST FELLOWSHIP
THE CONGREGATION THAT SEEKS TRUTH, PRACTICES LOVE AND CELEBRATES LIFE!!!
April 2008 PO Box 1906, Bemidji, MN, 56619

www.paulbunyan.net/users/neen/

WORSHIP SERVICE AT 10:00 AM
BEMIDJI SENIOR CENTER, 216 THIRD ST NW

April 6: Homelessness in BEMIDJI: How and where do our lives intersect with each other--Rebecca Hoffmann of Ours To Serve House of Hospitality

Snacks--Jane McKelvy Coordinator--Susan Kedzie-Webb

April 13: Pulling Back the Curtain: Post-Modernism and the Liberal Faith Tradition--Rev. Dr. Charles Buckman-Ellis Teaser:  How does the liberal faith tradition, a product of modernism, fare in a post-modern world?  Or, can the Wizard of Oz help us understand ourselves in confusing times?

“In 1976 the Presbyterian Church ordained me; I left them in 1990 and transferred my credentials to UU ministry in 1996.  My ministry focused on economic justice, affordable housing, neighborhood organizing and congregational development.  My volunteer time emphasizes work as a docent at the Minneapolis Institute of the Arts and working on climate change issues.” 

Snacks--Bernadette Paradis Coordinator--Terry Anderson-Weir

April 20: HUUF Annual Meeting, no service. Everyone is invited.

Childcare provided. No RE. Snacks--Linda & Roger Swenson

April 27: HUUF Youth Group Annual Service. Our Youth members will take us on a World Religion “tour” by presenting us with information about speakers they’ve had and places they’ve gone this year with topics of Zen Buddhism, Islam, the Quaker Friends, etc. Coordinators, Tricia Andrews and Sarah Shelton.

Snacks--Jules Rubey Coordinators--Tricia Andrews & Sarah Shelton

SAVE AUGUST 29-30-31 FOR OUR FIRST LUNETARIAN WEEKEND

Ellie and Bill Nelson have reserved campsites and kitchen at Lake Bemidji State Park for this traditional UU one weekend a year camp out. It is a time to get together and share in fun and relaxation, visiting, socializing, etc. It should be great fun as well as a good activity for HUUF. (See below for details.)

Lunetarian Weekend

Many churches have it in the fall--a time to get together and share in fun, relaxation, visiting, and socializing. Four campsites with electricity have been reserved for folks with travel trailers. They are closest to the Group Camp (North) Site which holds 50 people for tents and one or two small pop-up trailers. The Kitchen is reserved for our use on Saturday and Sunday for community breakfasts and dinner. Lunch would be on one's own. It will be great fun as well as a good activity for HUUF. The dates are August 29-30-31 at Lake Bemidji State Park. Ellie Nelson

Nancy Heege, Prairie Star District Executive

HUUF Board Mtg Summaries,Feb & March, 2008

 CALENDAR
Apr 1 --Soup Kitchen, 3-5 & 5-7

Apr 6, 9:00 AM--Finance Committee Apr 6, 11:30 AM--Worship Committee
Apr 13, 8:00 AM--Board
Apr 13, 11:30 AM--Caring Committee Apr 20, 9:00 AM--Social Action/Env
Apr 20, 11:00 AM--Facility Committee Apr 27, 9:00 AM--RE Committee

Apr 11-13, PSD Conference, Omaha, NE
Apr, 2009, PSD Conference, Duluth, MN
June, 2008--GA, Ft. Lauderdale, FL
June, 2009,--GA, Salt Lake City, UT
June, 2010--GA, Minneapolis

CURRENT RIPPLES
HEADWATERS UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST FELLOWSHIP
THE CONGREGATION THAT SEEKS TRUTH, PRACTICES LOVE AND CELEBRATES LIFE!!!
March 2008 PO Box 1906, Bemidji, MN, 56619

www.paulbunyan.net/users/neen/

WORSHIP SERVICE AT 10:00 AM
BEMIDJI SENIOR CENTER, 216 THIRD ST NW

March 2: Letting Go: Ray Newman, HUUF member, presents a comparison of the practices of different faiths and how they approach letting go as a way to free the self of unreachable, unattainable and sometimes unrealistic goals and ideals.

Snacks-- Greeter--Marion Janikowski

March 9: This I Believe: Presented by the HUUF Worship Committee who will be concluding their portion of the Articulating Your UU Faith series by considering not only how one would describe Unitarian Universalism to someone else, but also how being a UU relates to what each of us believes. 

  Snacks-- Greeter--Mary Salter

A good day to “Invite A Friend” as the service will be all about what is a UU.

March 16: Bridge Practices and Radical Spirituality--Sherry Lee Short

presents the concept of "bridge practices," those activities that carry us towards deeper practices of justice, rights, and respect.  Sherry Lee currently teaches in the Department of Art and Design at Minnesota State University, Moorhead, instructing all levels of drawing as well as courses in design and the business of art.

Snacks-- Greeter--Tricia Andrews

March 23: Annual Children’s Service. Our youngest members of HUUF present their version of the Rainbow Path: the colors of the rainbow (ROYGBIV) represent the 7 UU Principles.
Snacks-- Greeter--Sue Nokleby

March 30: Ethics without God?--Paul Kivi
Virtually all people limit their selfishness and behave in ways that benefit others. Why?  Most people's answers involve God as the source morality.  Is a belief in God necessary for ethical behavior?  There is growing evidence that the moral rules in various religions have been a way to formalize the moral instincts already present in our social species.  Rather than morals resulting from religion, religions have tended to codify already existing moral standards.   Paul Kivi attempts to build an ethical system independent of God, derived instead on the consensus values of fairness and justice common across the World's cultures, that can be used to evaluate right and wrong behaviors without resorting to an outside authority such as God.    Greeter--Paul Kivi

THANK YOU!!

I would like to thank the wonderful community of HUUF that surrounded me and my family with their kindness and caring and warm meals during the past several months. We have all recovered so well from our hospitalizations and are feeling so healthy now. Nikki's throat is so much better since her tonsillectomy. Yeah!  We know we are blessed to have such a loving community to be apart of. Thank you. Terry Anderson -Weir

 STEWARDSHIP DRIVE

The annual canvass will be conducted in March-April with a theme of Stewardship.  The annual canvass is more than an opportunity to raise money.  It is also a chance to nurture stewardship-to have ownership in the congregation.  Stewardship is a theology of abundance and generosity.  With generosity of energy, time, talents, ideas, and-yes-money, we will be able to reach our congregational mission-both within HUUF and the larger community.
When a congregational "steward" meets with you, share generously so HUUF can continue to be a visible light of religious liberalism in our community.
Anyone interested in serving as a steward, can contact Sue Nokleby at 751-3353 or snokleby@paulbunyan.net

Social Action Committee Summary

Present:  Dann, Neen, Diana, Greg, Karen, Dick, Steve Young, Valerie, Barb and Sue. 
We discussed the 196 Anne Ave. property including leasing while we run a capital campaign to purchase.  Dann presented figures for a successful capital campaign of $200,000 of which 50-80% would be expected to be donated by a few significant contributors.  Later in the discussion, we determined $250,000 would probably be a better goal.  Even with the successful campaign, our expenses would greatly exceed our expenses now.  Questions about zoning came up-now it is commercial-could we switch it to church.  Also, could we rent space out according to the zoning and tax laws?
It was agreed that the space would not take much to make it functional.  There is some belief that some people interested in HUUF having its own space would contribute generously. the price has been reduced to $360,000. To view the building and some details, go to http://www.paulbunyan.net/4sale/
  Steve presented different options for securing any property.
  We also talked about the round window building on 2nd st.  It is currently available again.  Supposedly the asbestos has been removed.
 Actions and assignments:
-Dann proposed that we recommend to the Board to authorize Steve Young to explore on HUUF's behalf the property at 196 Anne St.  Steve offered to check out the zoning and other laws pertaining to the property, plus make a contact with the current owner to see what options there might be.  Steve does not want any financial compensation for this initial investigation.  Barb and Valerie will bring this recommendation to the Board (approved by Board.)  Barb will notify Steve of the Board's decision. He will then begin his investigation.
-As the first step in an unofficial capital campaign, Neen will approach potential large donors from within our congregation to explore their willingness and ability to contribute towards a building.  Dann will contact the potential donors in the broader UUA community for their commitment to our growth.  If these result in positive outcomes, we will meet to determine the next step.  If unable to secure commitments for 50-80% of our goal, the possibility of purchasing the building on Anne street is in peril.
-Other options need to be examined.  Rental is always an option.  The round window building on 2nd another potential.  Any other rental or purchase sites should be considered or at least ruled out.  The Facility Committee is willing to consider other options.  Sue called the realtor for the round window bldg.  The owner has it listed at $82,500.  Supposedly the building may qualify for up to a $40,000 fix up grant from the downtown assoc.  When asked-why doesn't the owner use that grant to fix the property up, the realtor said that he might if he doesn't sell it.  The building is about 26' wide and about 140' long.  It does need a heating and ventilation system.  There is an area under the building (with steps) for access to the sewer and water pipes.  Doesn't sound like much of a basement. Does anyone want to take a look?  Realtor said anytime.  Let Sue Nokleby know and she will set it up. 
  Also Sue will put together a matrix-based on a CDC assessment model-to compare the options we want to think about. Sue Nokleby

 CALENDAR

Mar 2, 9:00 AM--Finance Committee Mar 2, 11:30 AM--Worship Committee
Mar 4 --Soup Kitchen, 3-5 & 5-7 Mar 9, 8:00 AM--Board
Mar. 9, 11:30 AM--Caring Committee Mar 16, 9:00 AM--Social Action/Env
Mar 16, 11:00 AM--Facility Committee Mar 23, 9:00 AM--RE Committee
Apr 11-13, PSD Conference, Omaha, NE
June, 2008--GA, Ft. Lauderdale, FL
June, 2009,--GA, Salt Lake City, UT
June, 2010--GA, Minneapolis, MN

(Answers to UU questions--Francis David, 1568 and Michael Servatus, 1553) Neen

CURRENT RIPPLES
HEADWATERS UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST FELLOWSHIP
THE CONGREGATION THAT SEEKS TRUTH, PRACTICES LOVE AND CELEBRATES LIFE!!!
February 2008 PO Box 1906, Bemidji, MN, 56619

www.paulbunyan.net/users/neen/

WORSHIP SERVICE AT 10:00 AM
BEMIDJI SENIOR CENTER, 216 THIRD ST NW


February 3: “From Under a Dark Cloud” author, Deb McGregor-Pflegor

Her book speaks to healing and restoration in our community and world. We have our own stories to tell of searching through darkness to find the light that we’ve found in this Fellowship. We need to remind ourselves about the acts of forgiveness and grace; forgiving others and ourselves and grace can take many forms such as gratitude. We find these things among each other in fellowship, no matter what faith we attend.

Snacks--Sue Nokleby

February 10: Evolution Weekend--Paul Kivi & Dann Siems

We join with more than 750 churches and synagogues around the country and across the globe in celebrating Darwin Sunday, an extension of the Clergy Letters Project.  For many, Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection is thought to negate any sense of purpose and meaning.   Such a view reflects fundamental misunderstandings of Darwin’s life and writing. HUUF members, Paul Kivi and Dann Siems, will help us explore moral and ethical benefits (and risks) of accepting a wholly naturalistic worldview grounded in evolutionary processes.  What is just and what is fair are questions that do not require a deity.  Justice in many cases has a common form that is shared across cultures and even across species and from these universal concepts of justice can come broad moral foundations.  There will be time for comments and questions. Snacks--Jules Rubey

February 17: Articulating our UU Faith--Candy Roberts & Valerie Field

HUUF members will share with us how the First and Seventh Principles stand as Pillars of our Free Faith and our Ability to Choose. Snacks--??

February 24: Being Fully Present--Karen Kimbrough

She will discuss what it means to be fully present in daily life, how to bring a presence of our UU Faith with us, and how to find a presence of Divinity. Snacks--Ray Newman

 CALENDAR

Feb. 3, 9:00 AM--Finance Committee Feb. 3, 11:30 AM--Worship Committee
Feb. 5 --Soup Kitchen, 3-5 & 5-7 Feb. 10, 8:00 AM--Board
Feb. 10, 11:30 AM--Caring Committee Feb. 17, 9:00 AM--Social Action/Env
Feb. 17, 11:0 AM--Facility Committee Feb. 24, 9:00 AM--RE
Feb. 24, 11:30 AM--Web Site/Newsletter June, 2008--GA, Ft. Lauderdale, FL

CURRENT RIPPLES
HEADWATERS UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST FELLOWSHIP
THE CONGREGATION THAT SEEKS TRUTH, PRACTICES LOVE AND CELEBRATES LIFE!!!
Januarary 2008 PO Box 1906, Bemidji, MN, 56619

www.paulbunyan.net/users/neen/

WORSHIP SERVICE AT 10:00 AM
BEMIDJI SENIOR CENTER, 216 THIRD ST NW

January 6: Is Suffering a Good Thing?--Paul Kivi

 On net, probably not, but hardships in one’s life have substantial benefits as well as downsides, and offer opportunities leading to personal and spiritual growth.  In particular,if you or anyone you are close to has ever had depression, this talk will offer you some hard-won and powerful insights. Paul Kivi--Coordinator Greeter--Mary Salter 
 

January 13: Articulating Our UU Faith--Tricia Andrews

This service continues the Articulating Your UU Faith series and will focus on the concept of "Principles as Pillars." Our first and seventh UU Principles (Inherent worth and dignity of every person & respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part) are statements of what we affirm about life. They are pillars that hold up the other five Principles, which are more about how we agree to be together. Facilitated by Tricia Andrews with musical performance by Shylan Rose.
Coordinator--Tricia Andrews Greeter--Paul Kivi

January 20: Turkish Sultan Saves Unitarianism?

Neen Lillquist shares her recent trip to Transylvania with the Unitarian Universalist Partner Church Council through the fascinating story you have never heard of our creation and endurance, freedom of conscience, religious tolerance and the symbols “Egy Az Isten” and “Be wary as serpents, innocent as doves.” Slides will accompany the presentation.
Coordinator--Neen Lillquist Greeter--Ted Anderson-Weir

Congregational Meeting: Janauan 20th After the Service

Join us immediately after the service for a meeting to check in on what's happening with the programs and projects of the Fellowship.  We will report on highlights of committee-work, our financial status, and facility search. We'll have a finger food potluck... you may bring an appetizer or snack to share if you wish. There will be beverages available.

January 27: The Land of Enough, Cecilia Kingman Miller--Karen K.

Karen Kimbrough discusses giving. In a culture that shapes us to be consumers before anything else, how do we make financial choices that are in line with our own values? How do we teach our children life's meaning in a society that emphasizes appearances and accumulation? What is our responsibility to the poor?

Karen Kimbrough--Coordinator Greeter--Sue Nokleby

  Meeting for Committee Chairs

All committee chairpersons and board members will meet on January 9 at 5:30 p.m. at the meeting room of Luekens North. The committees are the hands and feet of our fellowship. It's time for us all to find out what everyone is doing and to support each other in our important work.
 Please review your committee description with the other committee members, if possible, and note whether the list of responsibilities still fits. Contact Barb Houg or another board member if you need a copy of the committee description.  Below is a list of individuals who signed up for committees during the canvass or annual meeting. Let us know if you see something inaccurate. Thanks!

COMMITTEES 2007-08
Caring------Chair: Carol Seibold
Board Liaison:
Holly Hesch Luke Rutten
Sue Nokleby Jon Seibold

Canvass------Chair:
Board Liaison:
Sue Nokleby Tricia Andrews
Neen Lillquist Luke Rutten
Darin Miller Carol Seibold
John/Suzanne Rabel

Facility-----Chair: Jane McKelvy
Board Liaison: Barb Houg
Derek Webb Heidi Heap-Chester
Dick Lueben Dann Siems
Greg Chester Neen Lillquist
Valerie Field
Special assignment: Terry, Sue N. Barb H., Neen

Finance------Chair: Alan Goldberg
Board Liaison: Valerie Field
Derek Webb Neen Lillquist
Carole Haas Alan Rudnick

Fundraising----Chair:
Susan Kedzie-Webb Alan Goldberg
Karen Kimbrough Valerie Field

Leadership----Chair: Sue Nokleby
Board Liaison: Valerie Field
Karen Kimbrough Luke Rutten
Jim Norland

Membership----Chair: Tricia Andrews
Board Liaison: Luke Rutten
Ted Anderson-Weir Mary Salter

Newsletter/Web site----Chair: Neen Lillquist
Tricia Andrews Karen Kimbrough
Valerie Field Carol Seibold
RE----Chair:
Board Liaison: Luke Rutten
Deanne Kivi Carol Seibold
Jules Rubey Nina Rudnick
Holly Hesch (youth)
Jim Norland (Adult-Small group ministries)
Special assignment: Susan Kedzie-Webb

Social Justice
Chair: Karen Kimbrough and Carol Seibold
Board Liaison: Darin Miller
Amy Rutten Heidi Heap-Chester
Ray Newman Greg Chester
Mark Morrisey Jon Seibold
Jim Norland Nancy Benson
Special assignment: Jules Rubey, Tom Lavell,
Diana Kuklinski, Sue Nokleby

Worship---Co-Chairs: Paul Kivi & Karen Kimbrough
Board Liaison:
Jody Johnson Greg Chester
Shylan Rose Heidi Heap-Chester
Terry Anderson Weir Molly Martin
Dann Siems Jim Norland
Special assignment: Susan Kedzie Webb,
Special assignment: Susan Kedzie Webb, Darin Miller, Sue Nokleby

SOUP KITCHEN NEEDS HELP & DATE CHANGE

NOTE FROM NANCY HEEGE, PSD EXECUTIVE

I think often of Susan Smith, who was such a valued member of the Midwest Leadership School Committee. Thanks for these words about her, as well as her words (regarding last newsletter issue.)

We have just received word that Lois Thomson died sometime last Thursday night. Neen

Social Action/Environment Committee

  December 16, 2007

Present: Karen Kimbrough, Marion Janikowski, Carol and Jon Seibold

1. Food Drive: Per my use of the Bemidji food shelf, it has come to my attention that they did not have enough food for the holidays. They ask that we change our efforts from a big donation in April to doing a big donation in early November.
Reminder: There is a collection basket present in the back of the service area every Sunday. Please continue to bring items or money.
2. We also discussed Second Harvest, a program that collects and disperses leftovers (untouched) from restaurants, the deli at Luekens, schools, etc. Carol will find out information about this program,
3. Environmental issues: Carol will be teaching “People in the Environment” next semester at BSU. Karen and Carol will make an appointment to speak with local recyclers.
4. Community requests committee/congregation This committee decided not to become involved with Kids with Heart this year.
5. The Red Cross is very short of funds to help local victims of home fires. Karen will contact to get information and see if/how we can help.
6. The LSS Senior Nutrition/Meals on Wheels program requests volunteers, beginning in Feb. according to the following schedule: February 4th through the 8th, April 21st through the 25th, July 7th through the 11th, September 22nd through the 26th, and December 8th through the 12th. They need 4 volunteers for each of these 5 day sessions: 1 runner and 1 driver for each car/ two cars. For more information, please contact Karen K. at 751-2289, or Sandi Malterud at 444-3987. Please contact Karen ASAP if you already know you can and are willing to choose one of the above weekly sessions.
7. Joining PSD and/or MN UU Social Justice Alliances: At this time the committee feels we are too busy to join in to attempt to meet with fellow social action committees in the Northern MN area.
8. "Teach-in" on climate change solutions on Jan. 31st. at BSU, part of Focus the Nation", a national campus event. Web cast of the 2% Solution for Weds. Jan. 30th. *Donate to Focus, Stop Your Junk Mail! Sign up with 41 Pounds, and a portion of the income is donated directly to us here at Focus the Nation. Eban Goodstein
Project Director www.focusthenation.org
Focus the Nation info@focusthenation.org
503-342-6863
10. Social Action/Environment Committee meetings:
January 20th February 17th
March 16th April 20th
May: TBA: end of year get together, plus discuss summer opportunities

HUUF Members and Friends are invited to attend our meetings. We have a lot of ideas and community requests, thus we need a larger Social Action Committee. As a part of a growing Fellowship, we can become more visual in the community at large. As a result we can grow our Fellowship in numbers and spiritually as we make bridges within the community.

Sunday Service Announcements Change

So that we can shorten the time it takes for announcements an insert will be added to the bulletin each Sunday.  Please contact Karen Kimbrough by Friday with announcements regarding HUUF (committees, meetings, upcoming events, needs, sign-ups, etc.) or about community events or news. She will print them in the insert.
  
We know some things come up at the last minute. If you arrive on Sunday and something pops into your head that  you would like announced, please put it in writing to give to the service coordinator. When the service begins the coordinator will read your message. Change is natural, so breathe now, slowly...tee hee.

Thank you, Karen Kimbrough, Worship Co-Chair
751-2289 or karenaid@charter.net

 “HUUF Night Out”

Members and friends and their guests are invited to HUUF Night Out at 6:00 pm on Saturday, January 26 at the Bemidji Senior Center.  Social time begins at 5:00 p.m.  The HUUF membership committee will host a showing of Amelie, a 2001 French film directed by Jean-Pierre-Jeunet and starring Audrey Tautou. This movie has gotten rave reviews from notable HUUF members such as Nikki Miller, Sarah Shelton and Robert Saxton, and will, they assure us, be a treat for everyone, not just foreign movie snobs. There is no charge for the movie or refreshments (wine and other tasty French treats.)  Any monetary gestures of appreciation will support HUUF youth. Please consider inviting friends or acquaintances to join in the fun.  Merci!  For more info or if you are interested in helping to provide refreshments, please contact Tricia Andrews at 444-8936 or tandrews@girlscoutslolc.org.

That’s not all!  Youth members of HUUF will offer childcare from 5:00 to 8:30 pm on this evening.  The cost is $5 per child (for the entire evening!) and will include planned activities, games, snacks and a movie as well as a kid friendly supper.  Families are asked to register before Wednesday, January 23 by calling Sarah Shelton at 333-6806.  Space is limited to 30 children.  Please note:  all HUUF families are welcome to take advantage of this opportunity, whether or not they choose to attend the movie. 
 The HUUF youth group has set a goal to learn about world religions this year.  Any proceeds from this event will support youth member’s trip this spring to the Minneapolis-St. Paul area to visit a variety of places of worship. They then hope to incorporate what they have learned into a youth planned service later this year.  Your support of this goal is tres appreciated.
Amélie’s original French title is Le Fabuleux Destin d'Amélie Poulain ("The Fabulous Life of Amélie Poulain"; poulain is French for foal). Written by Jeunet with Guillaume Laurant, the film is a whimsical and somewhat idealized depiction of contemporary Parisian life, set in Montmartre. It tells the story of a painfully shy waitress who decides to change the lives of those around her for the better, while struggling with her own isolation. Amélie won best film at the European Film Awards; it won four César Awards (including Best Film and Best Director), two BAFTA Awards (including Best Original Screenplay), and was nominated for five Academy Awards.

Jan. 8 --Soup Kitchen, 3-5 & 5-7
Jan. 29, 9:00 AM--Social Action/Env Comm
Jan. 9, 5:30 PM--Committee Chair’s Meeting, Lueken’s North
Jan. 20, Congregational Meeting, following the service
Jan. 26, 5:00 PM--HUUF Night Out Film
June, 2008--GA, Ft. Lauderdale, FL

CURRENT RIPPLES
HEADWATERS UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST FELLOWSHIP
THE CONGREGATION THAT
SEEKS TRUTH, PRACTICES LOVE AND CELEBRATES LIFE!!!
December 2007 PO Box 1906, Bemidji, MN, 56619
www.paulbunyan.net/users/neen/
WORSHIP SERVICE AT 10:00 AM
BEMIDJI SENIOR CENTER, 216 THIRD ST NW

December 2: Surviving Christmas--UU Style--Pastor Sue Denio
How can we mesh our past with our present? Can anything good come from Nazareth? Pastor Sue Denio served as presbytery program staff for six years in Nebraska, and was a consultant for Louisville Presbytery during seminary. She has served as co-pastor, and Director of Shared Ministries in several churches in Minnesota. In addition to church service, Sue has coordinated a statewide educational program serving over 8,000 students, and has worked extensively with youth and parents as a parent educator and academic challenge coordinator. Barb Houg--Coordinator Snacks--Derek Webb
December 9: What Do I Say After I Say, I’m a Unitarian Universalist? 
Based upon session one of the "Articulating Your UU Faith," the purpose is to have the congregation reflect on and share the experience of talking about Unitarian Universalism, particularly out of our own vocabulary and experience.  As a participatory service, come prepared (or not) to share what you believe and how your beliefs have changed. Sue Nokleby and Molly Martin--Coordinators
Snacks--Terry Anderson-Weir
December 16: Three Cups of Tea, Rev. Eric Northard
During this service I will reflect on lessons from one of the best books I have read in years - Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortensen.  This book is an excellent illustration of putting faith to action - the faith that comes from within with the assurance that doing good is what we are called to be.  It's also an excellent primer for working across cultures and gives a great lesson about the importance of cooperation and respect.
Karen Kimbrough--Coordinator Snacks--Dann Siems
December 23: Annual Music Service
HUUF member, Paul Kivi presents a morning of music. Christmas music represents some of the finest music Europe has ever produced.  Join us in joyous celebration as our talented members and friends play and sing Christmas, Solstice, and other winter themed songs.  If you are in town on December 23rd, please join us, for HUUF will be where the fun is!  Paul Kivi--Coordinator Snacks--?
December 30: Fire Communion EVENING SERVICE AT 7:00 P.M.
HUUF member, Candy Roberts, helps us to explore the peace and wishes of the coming year with a candlelight service. Coordinator--Candy Roberts
Snacks--Marcy Lacroix


WELCOME LUIS
A BIG, BIG WELCOME TO LUIS, SON OF MARY SALTER AND CANDY ROBERTS. AFTER A LONG, LONG WAIT WE ARE SO HAPPY TO HAVE HIM JOIN OUR HUUF FAMILY AND LOOK FORWARD TO SHARING IN HIS LIFE!

HUUF Welcomes New Members
and their children
We are most delighted to welcome the following new members and their children as official members of our Headwaters Unitarian Universalist growing congregation.

Sarah Shelton
Marion Janikowski
Tim Aldrich
Shylan Rose
Rebecca Fontana with Vincent and Isabella
Susan and Greg Bernard with Madison and Parker
Rebecca Hoffman and Brodie Karger with Calder and Quinn
A lovely new member welcome was held at the November 18th service. All new members are requested to write a cameo and here are two:

MARION JANIKOWSKI
My UU background--two years of going to Sunday morning meetings and finding that I, as a Methodist, had many beliefs similar to UU.  I thought you people ignored God but now I realize that isn't so. Uus are more accepting than any group I have ever met.  Sort of a God bless us all, no exceptions attitude.
 
I am retired after working many years at the Clerk of Court's office. I work very hard in retirement, too.
 
Most of my family is gone.  I have one sister living, one son living, four grandchildren and some nieces and nephews.
 
My interests are gardening and art, reading and talking.  I still like music but the arthritic hands do not play the piano anymore. I like dogs and birds, I love a full moon, rivers and lakes, snow in winter.
 
I live in Bemidji near Lake Irvine.  This used to be a slum area years ago, but is a nice neighborhood now with friendly people.
 
I became a member because I need a Sunday morning church. I like the warmth and friendliness, the caring, and apparently I fit in because Ted Anderson Weir said to me "You should not say 'You people'.  You are one of us". As one of us I urge us to sing the same song at least three or four times so we learn it or so I can learn it anyway.  I have never fallen asleep or even nodded in one of our Sunday morning services.  I appreciate the honesty, the laughter, the reaching out that I find here. I really love the children's story time, and after the talk, or presentation or whatever you call it I like being able to ask questions or disagree.  I am here because I want to be here.

REBECCA HOFFMAN, BRODIE KARGER, CALDER AND QUINN
We discovered the UU community while we lived in Madison, WI in the late 90's.  Since then we've attended several different UU churches in Madison, Saukville, and Milwaukee, WI.  Since returning to Bemidji two years ago we discovered HUUF.  However, our first contact with the HUUF community was through Susan Smith back in 2000.  Susan performed a beautiful wedding ceremony for/with us at Lake Bemidji State Park.

Rebecca is the executive director of Ours to Serve House of Hospitality and Brodie is an exhibits manager for GE Healthcare based out of Milwaukee.

Our family consists of Rebecca, Brodie, Calder, and Quinn.  We also have many extended family members here in Bemidji who helped draw us back to this community-- especially once we added children to our family.

Rebecca's interests include genealogy research, flower gardening, and spending time outdoors (especially x-c skiing) in her spare time.  Brodie's interests include motorcycling, bicycling, skiing, playing guitar, and being outside.  Calder loves to play running games; ride his bike, tricycles, and pedal car; and play with his little sister.  Quinn loves to play with cars, chase her brother, sing, and change her clothes several times a day! We live just outside of Bemidji off of Power Dam Rd. and Tyler Avenue.

We became members because we felt it was important to invest ourselves in the UU community.  (And that is especially so here in Bemidji, MN.)  We appreciate the opportunity to be part of the community of warm, caring, intelligent, seeking individuals that comprise HUUF
IN HONOR OF SUSAN SMITH
Janet Timmerman, Susan’s sister honors Susan’s November 13th birth-death day with the following:

For Sis
For years I kept a thankfulness journal.
Just a little flip note book, barely there,
A few lines at best to write on.
On the pages over the years,
You were there.

June 6
Smell of blue spruce in the heat
Mock orange blossoms
Shade on a hot day
Sun tea sisters
Night wind

September 3
Monarchs and Dragons
Good work done
Listening to the rain through the open window
Phone calls from my sister
Interesting books
Ideas to share with excitement

Nov. 20, 2003
Time to reflect
Walking the labyrinth alone
Little white feathers
Travel mercies

AND SOME OF SUSAN’S WRITING
MOMENTS
Life is an eternal flow of present moments
Our Thoughts
Our Feelings
Our Actions
In each present moment create The Next.

How do you want to bring yourself to this moment
and this moment
and this moment
and this moment?

LIFE IS A PROCESS
When we let go of our Attachment to the out come,
We can enjoy and notice the process.
Life is process - not outcome.
It is effortless when we let it be.

Geri Wilimek from Marlon Davidson
A thank you gift of the portfolio Oval Stones, Loonfeather Press was presented by Marlon to Geri when she spoke at HUUF recently.

UUA Advocacy News
Focus the Nation - January 31, 2008: Join our friends at Focus the Nation for the first national teach-in on global warming solutions for America. Focus the Nation aims to increase dialogue at over a thousand colleges, universities, high schools, middle schools, places of worship, civic organizations and businesses, directly engaging millions of students and community members with the nation's decision-makers. It's is a great way to bring many new people to the table in your community, and to continue to engage your politicians. The Bemidji Focus the Nation Organizing Committee meets with Patrick Welle at BSU and our HUUF Social Action Committee will have members attending planning meetings.

Social Action/Environment Committee
  November 18th, 2007
Present: Greg Chester, Darin Miller, Karen K.
Food Drive: per e-mail. Karen and Darin gathered the items, took a picture and Darin delivered 146 pounds of collected items to the Food shelf! Yea! Good job everyone!
Reminder: There is a collection basket present in the back of the service area every Sunday. Please continue to bring items or money. Thank you.
Environmental issues: deferred until Carol is present to report on the research for assisting Beltrami County with the curbside recycling issue.
Environmentalist Plaque: It was decided to make the awarding of a plaque to someone in the community as the “environmentalist of the year” an annual event. Last year the award went to Bob Schimeck. Please submit names for this year’s award. Names so far: Charles Krysel and John Persel. This committee will decide the winner and the plaque will be awarded at an environmental event around Earth Day in April.
Social Action Committee Yearly Objectives: Rough draft was approved with the inclusion of the “Environmentalist of the Year” award.
Soup Kitchen: For December, Soup Kitchen date change! The 2nd Tues. in Dec., the 11th, instead of the usual first Tues.  Since the first Tues. in Jan. is New Year’s Day, Terry will find out if the soup kitchen will be open.
More volunteers are always welcome!
Community requests of this committee/ congregation: Kids with Heart requests our help with a kickoff event or possibly with award event in Feb.
The LSS Senior Nutrition/Meals on Wheels program requests volunteers, beginning in Feb.

Alert--All Committee Chairs--Jan. 9, 5:30
The Board is planning a special Committee Chair meeting at Lueken’s North. Save the time and date.

Congregational Meeting Announcement
A congregational meeting will be held on January 13th following the service. Hope you will all be there so become informed of the latest news.

Sunday Service Announcements Change
So that we can shorten the time it takes for announcements an insert will be added to the bulletin each Sunday.  Please contact Karen Kimbrough by Friday with announcements regarding HUUF (committees, meetings, upcoming events, needs, sign-ups, etc.) or about community events or news. She will print them in the insert.
  
We know some things come up at the last minute. If you arrive on Sunday and something pops into your head that  you would like announced, please put it in writing to give to the service coordinator. When the service begins the coordinator will read your message. Change is natural, so breathe now, slowly...tee hee.
Thank you, Karen Kimbrough, Worship Co-Chair
751-2289 or karenaid@charter.net

CALENDAR
Dec 11--Soup Kitchen, 3-5 & 5-7
Dec. 16, 9:00 AM--Social Action/Env Comm
Jan. 9, 5:30--Committee Chair’s Meeting, Lueken’s North
Jan. 13, Congregational Meeting, following the service
June, 2008--GA, Ft. Lauderdale, FL

CURRENT RIPPLES
HEADWATERS UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST FELLOWSHIP
THE CONGREGATION THAT SEEKS TRUTH, PRACTICES LOVE AND CELEBRATES LIFE!!!
November 2007 PO Box 1906, Bemidji, MN, 56619

www.paulbunyan.net/users/neen/

WORSHIP SERVICE AT 10:00 AM
BEMIDJI SENIOR CENTER, 216 THIRD ST NW
November 4: (A language of) Reverence

What does "reverence" mean to you? What does it feel like? What does it mean for UUs to have a "language of reverence"? Join Tricia Andrews, Lora Bertelson, and Shylan Rose to explore the idea, experience and practice of reverence within our UU Fellowship and in our everyday lives. Tricia Andrews--Coordinator

Snacks--Sarah Shelton Greeter--Tricia Andrews

K-2nd grade:  Story Time:  Runaway Bunny Theme:  Love Teacher:  Marcy La Croix

3rd-5th grade:  Walking the Rainbow Path Concept:  Places of Power
Teacher:  Karen or Dann

New Member Orientation @ 11:30 – 12:30 OR Monday, November 5
6:30 – 7:30 @ Cabin Coffeehouse (see article on Membership)

November 11: The Largest Boat Imaginable, Rev. Laurie Bushbaum

How do we create a metaphor to describe what we do on Sunday morning in worship? Or that sacred moment canoeing on a quiet river, watching the sun set through the woods? Holding your child for the first time? What does it mean to worship and what carries us there? The Largest Boat Imaginable? What would your boat look like?
Candy Roberts--Coordinator

Snacks--Rebecca Hoffman Greeter--Mary Salter

K-2nd grade--Story Time:  The Snowy Day Theme:  Snow Teacher:  Marcy La Croix

WORSHIP COORDINATOR AND ARTICULATING YOUR UU FAITH TRAINING
WITH REV. LAURIE BUSHBAUM
Saturday, November 10th, Senior Center
Theory and Practice of Worship---12:30-2:30 p.m.
Articulating Your UU Faith--2:45-5:00 p.m.
call Karen Kimbrough 751-2289 or Paul Kivi 467-6733 for information

November 18: Getting Past Reactivity: Therapy or Spiritual Practice? Geri Wilimek 

Geri Wilimek is a clinical social worker, in private practice at Wildgen, Wilimek, and Associates of Bemidji.  She is currently studying the Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction  Program aimed at teaching MBSR courses in the local community.  She has lived in Bemidji for 28 years.  She has an interest in Buddhism and its spiritual and psychological teachings.  She serves as a board member for the Bemidji Symphony Orchestra.  Other interests include visual arts, kayaking and walking.  Marlon Davidson--Coordinator

Snacks--Karen Kimbrough Greeters-Sue Nokleby

RE: Nov. 18th:  Social Action Sunday--Homelessness Service Project

NEW MEMBER WELCOME Please contact Membership Chair Tricia Andrews 444-8936 or tandrews@girlscoutslolc.org if you would like more information.

As Victoria Weinstein wrote to welcome new members: We hope that as a member of this church you will allow yourselves to know and to be known, to minister to and to be ministered unto, to love and to be loved, by this congregation.  We never really know what combination of fate and friendship and good luck it is that brings certain people together in this world for any purpose. But we believe that membership in the church calls each of us here to celebrate the fate that has drawn us together, and to regard each one a spiritual friend and a potential teacher, even of occasional hard lessons.

November 25: Giving and Receiving Blessings, Terry Anderson-Weir

This Thanksgiving weekend service will explore a variety of Blessings and what meaning blessings have in our lives. "Few People know they have the power to bless life. We bless the life in each other far more than we realize." -- Rachel Naomi Remen.

Terry Anderson-Weir--Coordinator
Snacks--Suzi/Robert Saxton Greeter--Ted Anderson-Weir

K-2nd grade--Story Time:  Thanksgiving Day Theme:  Being Thankful
Teacher:  Jules Rubey
3rd-5th grade--Walking the Rainbow Path Theme:  Homelessness Service Project 

UUA President Sinkford Seeks California Fire Donations

He writes, "My heart goes out to those whose lives have been affected by the wildfires in Southern California. The extent of the devastation will not be fully known until the fires are extinguished, but recovery will take many years.” Sinkford encourages donations to the Pacific Southwest District's Fire Relief Fund, which will disburse aid to UU congregations, UUs in need, community groups in relationship with UU congregations, and other groups supporting those most in need. Donations can be made on-line at: http://www.pswduua.org/pages/posts/pswd-fire-relief-fund19.php.

HUUF Youth Group Meets

Middle school and high school students involved in HUUF along with two youth from the Quaker group in Bemidji met with Sarah Shelton, Holly Hesch and Tricia Andrews on October 14th to share ideas and establish a plan for the coming year.  In attendance were Nikki and Laura Miller, Aria Hesch, Ellen Munson, Katie Houg and Kaija and Annika Roy. Robert Saxton was not able to be there, but will also serve as youth group advisor. 
There was a lot of interest in learning about other faith traditions such as Taoism or Buddhism, as well as gaining a better understanding of Unitarian Universalism. The group will meet once a month for thoughtful discussion and to learn about our own and other religions.  Also, there was interest in attending UU youth cons and doing some weekend adventures and combining fun activities such as rock climbing, cross country skiing, bowling or visiting museums or water parks along with attending services or programs offered by UU and other religious groups.  We discussed ways to fund such trips, including a carnival and holding a parent’s night out (by offering baby sitting).  The group also decided that they will welcome new youth members who are interested in making a serious commitment to attend all meetings and activities (not just the fun stuff). 
The group aims to meet the first Monday of every month beginning 4-6 pm Monday, November 5th.  The tentative location is the home of Nikki and Laura Miller. 

New Member Orientation Sessions

New members and anyone interested in learning more about Unitarian Universalism and what it means to be a member of Headwaters Unitarian Universalist Fellowship are welcome to attend one of the New Member Orientations following the November 4th service or on Monday, November 5th from 6:30-7:30 p.m. at the Cabin Coffeehouse. Please contact Tricia Andrews at 444-8936 or tandrews@girlscoutslolc.org if you plan to attend.  If you cannot attend one of these sessions but would like to get together to chat about HUUF and membership, just give me a call. Thanks!  There will be a special welcoming to take place during the service on November 18th. 

Membership Committee Meeting

Anyone interested in the community-building process of our fellowship (such as welcoming guests, celebrating and supporting new as well as longtime members) is welcome to attend 5-6 pm Thursday, November 15th at the Cabin Coffeehouse. Please let Tricia Andrews (444-8936 or tandrews@girlscoutslolc.org know if you plan to attend this meeting or would like to be involved in these efforts.

Caring Concerns

Please keep in mind folks who are dealing with illness/operations right now. If you know of others, please let us know.

- John Filardo--recovering from cancer surgery
- Carol Haas husband--cancer treatment
- Terry Anderson-Weir-surgery recovery

KAXE - HUUF PARTNERSHIP UPDATE 

We are officially applicants for a new radio station frequency. The paperwork has been filed and now we sit and wait for a while (months? years? ... it's up to the FCC). There will be a notice 3 times in the Bagley paper regarding our application for this frequency (an FCC requirement). As a part of our agreement, HUUF will have free advertising on KAXE. We can begin this at anytime now. So don't be surprised if you start hearing about UUs on 91.7 or 105.3!

COMPUTER PICTURE PROJECTOR
If anyone has or knows of a projector that I can use to project digital pictures from Transylvania for my service, please let me know. Neen

Facility Committee Report
The facility committee has recently toured two buildings looking for a space that better fits our needs... TrekNorth High School in the Simonson building just off of Paul Bunyan Dr. NW and the former Community Education building across from the old high school. TrekNorth would have more space for child care and perhaps a bit easier set up and take down for the worship coordinators. Their board approved us using the space as long as we paid for a cleaning service which we just learned is $75 per time. We are inquiring whether we can hire our own cleaning folks to substantially reduce that cost.
  The former community education building has potential for a good permanent meeting space for HUUF. We are awaiting an appraisal that the school district is having done. We will know then whether the cost is in our ballpark or not.
  We will bring in the rest of the fellowship when it is decision-making time about whether and where to move. You are invited to join the facility committee or to give input to any of its members. Jane McKelvy is Chair of the committee and I am board liaison.-------Barb Houg

Social Action/Environment Committee
October 21, 2007

Present: Carol & John Siebold, Marion Janikowski, Greg Chester, Karen Kimbrough
Soup kitchen: Karen will contact Darin Miller and Terry A-W. to see who is volunteering for Nov. 6th & Dec. 4th. Suggest a sign-up sheet be passed during next service, if needed and also as a back-up list of people to contact in an emergency.
Food Drive: October 28th, quick and easy meals: We’ll have the RE kids stack it all up (like last year) as a great visual lesson for our youth during the Children’s Message. Karen will contact Darin about helping to get all the items collected over to the Food Shelf.
Highway cleanup: Cleanup went well last week. Eight people stayed to work, plus 1 person driving to bring bags/water. It lasted about 2 hours. There were a lot of beer cans and cigarette butts. Another $20 was found! Thank you everyone!
Suggested changes for the Spring Cleanup: more people are needed, need more latex gloves, perhaps contact the Adopt A Highway organizations on either side of our 2 mile section to make a big public showing of support to clean up the road, place signs at either end of our section to notify drivers of our crew for safety reasons (highway clean up crew next 2 miles,) speak to the HUUF Board about involving more youth/age limit liability/supervision, and do a potluck desert AFTER the cleanup. It’s not easy to work after eating a big potluck meal!
Take Back the Night: Another successful event! There was more than enough chili and snacks provided by HUUF. Thank you everyone.
Environmental Community Project:
Help Beltrami County reinstate the citywide curbside recycling program. This is an ongoing discussion and any and all ideas are welcome. Karen and Carol will do research with Fosston, Magnuson, county board, and BSU’s Students For the Environment. After we have statistics, financial information, etc., we will encourage letters to the editor and contacts with county board officials.
Next meeting will be Nov. 18th, 9 AM, Senior Center.

Finance Committee Report

The Finance Committee met in Sept. and Oct.
Pledge Report--
34 of 49 pledge units (families, we have 62 members) or 69% pledged this year plus 5 nonmembers for a total of 39 pledges. The average pledge was $379 with a median of $400 (last year $225) the highest in recent history. Our total General Fund pledges were $15, 250 and we had 15 Building Fund pledges for a total of $4,000. Historically we have received about 80% of pledges.
Mortgage amount--membership, pledge, income and expense history is being assembled to present to a bank to request mortgage amount information.
Employee tax, etc. information--preparation is being made to move into an employee status with the DRE at the beginning of the next tax year including the recommendation to hire an accountant.
Software--recommended update, support and on-line class consideration to the Board.

HUUF Board Mtg Summary, Oct. , 2007

Mail – Received Thank You cards from the UUA for being a Fair Share contributing congregation and from Take Back the Night for providing chili and hosting.
Status of pledges (see Finance Committee Report)
Action – Barb to convene Canvass and Membership Committee chairs to develop process for revising membership list and following up with members that have not pledged this years.
Finances – Valerie to e-mail #s. Neen presented an itemized income and expense report for September. We were pleased that some pledges were paid for last year following the notification sent in August and and that RE Camp showed a gain. Neen requested and it was approved to use the budgeted $300 for software support, update and on-line classes along with an additional donation of $300+ by Ellie Nelson and Neen to cover the total cost.
Endowment – Valerie is providing NWMF with updated information and will request the $488 interest payment to strengthen the RE program.
DRE Employee Status - As recommended by the Finance Committee, it was approved to hire an accountant for $25/month to assist with employee payroll accounting beginning in tax year 2008.  Action -Finance Committee to contact and hire accountant.  

Next meeting: November 11th at 8 am

CURRENT RIPPLES
HEADWATERS UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST FELLOWSHIP
THE CONGREGATION THAT SEEKS TRUTH, PRACTICES LOVE AND CELEBRATES LIFE!!!
October 2007 PO Box 1906, Bemidji, MN, 56619

www.paulbunyan.net/users/neen/

WORSHIP SERVICE AT 10:00 AM
BEMIDJI SENIOR CENTER, 216 THIRD ST NW
October 7: Nine Minutes at Red Lake High School, Chris Dunshee

Chris Dunshee has a firsthand knowledge of school violence and brings a clarity, poignancy and message of hope in his presentations.  He has been a featured speaker on school violence prevention for law enforcement, schools and national agencies such as the U. S. Dept. of Education Safe and Drug Free Schools and the National Terrorism Symposium.  Chris has been a secondary administrator in Minnesota for 19 years including 8 years as the principal at Red Lake High School.
Tricia Andrews--Coordinator

Snacks--Anita Maracco Greeter--Paul Kivi

Serving/Cleanup Week for Food Shelf Collection: Please bring paper goods such as plates, cups, napkins, paper towels plus toothpaste/toothbrushes, shampoo, bath soap, laundry soap, etc.

RE--K-2nd: teacher: Marcy La Croix Story: Peter Rabbit Theme: following rules

3rd-5th: teacher(s): Karen Kimbrough/Dann Siems
Theme: Religious Community as Treasure

October 14: The Philosophical Underpinnings of the First UU Principle, Kit Christensen

The first of the seven UU principles is our belief in the inherent worth and dignity of every human being. What does it imply for how we live our lives and for major issues in our society? Kit Christensen returns to discuss the justification of our first principle and what arguments could be made for and against it.  Karen Kimbrough--Coordinator

Snacks--Nina Rudnick Greeter--Laura Miller

Holiday baking/cooking/treats for Food Shelf Collection: Please bring items for making holiday goodies for pies, cookies, etc such as flour, sugar, spices, cans of fruit fillings, chocolate chips, sugar sprinkles, etc

RE: SOCIAL ACTION SUNDAY: The kids will go to a nursing home to share their talents and participate in a Halloween craft with the residents.

October 21: Respect Yr Mama Bike Tour Finale, Shannon Murray & Cuomo!

Folk/punk singers and storytellers Shannon Murray and Dave Cuomo have undertaken a 1200 mile bike tour of Minnesota, forsaking the hypocrisy of raising awareness of global warming at concerts while traveling by car. Murray explains, “Global warming is a systemic problem, and real change cannot come from within that system, it must come from a new approach to how we live, how we define communities, and to our everyday lives.” They have chosen our fellowship as the final stop on the tour, and will share stories from the trip along with discussions of capitalism, consumer culture, climate change and community-and of course, music! Learn more about Shannon and Cuomo! at http://www.shannonmurray.com/bio.html and http://www.myspace.com/cuomomusic

Tricia Andrews--Coordinator
Snacks--Carol Seibold Greeters--Bill and Ellie Nelson

Pre-meal/post-meal snacks for Food Shelf Collection: Please bring snacking items such as pickles, canned/ jarred items. Be creative!

RE:
K-2nd: teacher: Marcy La Croix Story: The Chick and the Duckling Theme: Saying No
3rd-5th: teacher(s): Karen Kimbrough/Dann Siems Theme: Intro to the Rainbow Path

October 28: 16th Annual Memorial Service

Our traditional service to honor our past year’s losses. Please bring photos, symbols, readings to share in community our love and compassion for each other.
        

Neen Lillquist & Marlon Davidson--Coordinators
Snacks--Jules Rubey Greeter--Tricia Andrews

Quick and easy meals for Food Shelf Collection: Please bring items such as pastas, canned cheese, toma-to sauces, canned onions or peppers or veggies, canned soups, dry goods to make fast meals on the go,.

RE: K-2nd: teacher: Marcy La Croix Story: Halloween Theme: Halloween, fantasy
3rd-5th: teacher(s): Karen Kimbrough/Dann Siems Theme: Creating a Class Covenant

HALLOWEEN PARTY AT 5 PM

We will celebrate DAY OF THE DEAD/ALL SAINTS DAY with a short program and then games and crafts to follow. All are welcome (members, friends, and guests). Please bring a festive dish to share for potluck.

YOUTH: A Prairie Star District Youth Conference is being planned for the weekend of October 26th-28th. The conference is at First Universalist in Minneapolis and is for youth in 7th-12th grades.

RE NEWS

Congratulations to everyone for the great support this year with our new programming for RE. We have volunteer teachers scheduled for the entire year!! I am very pleased with the response we have gotten from people willing to step forward with this change and offer generously of their time. Thank you all. We have an exciting program planned this year for all age groups in RE.
The K-2nd graders will be using the ‘Story Time’ curriculum. Each week they will hear a story and then participate in a movement game and a craft activity with a related theme.
The 3rd-5th graders will be learning from the ‘Rainbow Path’ curriculum. This curriculum uses the metaphor of the colors of the rainbow to teach the seven principles. The children will begin to learn to name their own religious/spiritual/ experiences. They will experience stories and language as a framework to build their own belief system and nurture their ethical growth. Deanne K

UU T-SHIRTS

If anyone wants to order a UU t-shirt from the 2007 summer camp, I will be putting in an order by the end of October. The design has our HUUF name on the front with a child’s drawing of a chalice. On the back of the shirt are the 7 principles. T-shirts are blue and cost $10. Please contact Deanne Kivi (467-3222) with you size.

KAXE - HUUF PARTNERSHIP UPDATE

KAXE is moving ahead with applying for a radio frequency in the Bemidji area using HUUF as the applying agency. Listen soon for the ads that KAXE will be broadcasting for HUUF as a part of this partnership. Contact Barb Houg if you have any questions.

POEMS WRITTEN LAST SPRING BY KIDS DURING A HIKE TO LAKE BEMIDJI

Flowing so graceful.
Plants are growing endlessly.
Animals are swimming, how I love to watch them.
I feel wonderful when I’m by you,
The pond.
By Nikki Anderson-Weir

I see a lake that is blue.
It has waves that sound like splash, splash.
I feel happy when I look at the lake.
By Tommy Saxton

It is clear.
It waves.
You can swim in it.
Do you know what it is?
Yes, it is water.
I feel calm.
By Emily Miller

I see white paint on a rock.
Sounds like caw, caw
The birds are happy flying over the lake.
By Katya Kivi

Park
Fun
Lots of trees
Big tall trees
Fun
Seagulls flying
It is Diamond Point Park!
By Emily Kivi

Facility Committee Visits TrekNorth

Exploring TrekNorth as a possible Sunday meeting/worship space for HUUF, we toured the school and had a conversation with Dan McKeon, the school’s director. Recognizing there is a downside to moving to a new location that will not be our “permanent” space, our congregation is also feeling an increased need for more space for RE classes, as we now have 2 separate RE classes plus a childcare group each week. Other disadvantages and advantages are:

Disadvantages:
§        Have to go outside to get to cafeteria from the worship and classroom space.

§        The need to figure out ways to protect the school’s property from curious kids
Advantages:
§   Plenty of rooms for all religious education/childcare needs
§  Big social meeting area (cafeteria)
§   Kids able to go to the snack place even if service goes overtime
§   The worship area (school theater) would be easier to set up and take down than the senior center
§   Cleaning service would be included in the weekly fee

Plan

We are checking out other possibilities to buy or rent. In the meantime, TrekNorth will get back to us regarding a rental fee. If the facilities committee feels that TrekNorth or another site would be a good option, we will have a congregational meeting to talk about it and the members will make a decision regarding changing meeting sites.
Call Jane McKelvy, Facilities Committee Chair or Barb Houg, Board Liaison, if you have any questions or comments.

Social Action/Environment Committee

Sept. 23 Present: Carol & John Seibold, Marion Janakowski, Darin Miller, Karen Kimbrough
Soup kitchen: Roger and Linda Swenson will cook this week Darin will make calls to fill the coming weeks.
FYI: Soup Kitchen is every 1st Tues. of each month with cooking from 3:00 to 5:00 PM and serving from 5:00 to 6:30 PM at Mount Zion Church in Nymore, the old Lincoln school. Anyone, including kids, welcome to volunteer.

Highway cleanup: October 14th, contact Greg Chester for details.

Take Back the Night: Sept. 25th at the Bemidji Senior Center. HUUF is providing food and welcomes anyone to help serve.

HUUF Food Drives:

In the past, we have done one food drive in the Spring. This year we will be hosting two food drives. The first one will be every Sunday in the month of Oct. to help the Food Shelf stock up for the holidays. The last Sunday, we’ll have the RE kids stack it all up (like last year) as a great visual lesson for our youth to carry in their hearts.
The Sundays of Oct. ask for the following items:

October 7th: Serving/Cleanup Week

Please bring paper goods such as plates, cups, napkins, paper towels for kitchen and bath use, plus toothpaste/toothbrushes, shampoo, bath soap, laundry soap, etc.

October 14th, holiday baking/cooking/treats:

Please bring items for making holiday goodies for pies, cookies, etc. such as flour, sugar, spices, cans of fruit fillings, chocolate chips, sugar sprinkles, etc.

October 21st, pre-meal/post-meal snacks:

Please bring snacking items such as pickles, canned/ jarred items. Be creative, etc.

October 28th, quick and easy meals:

Please bring items such as pastas, canned cheese or tomato sauces, canned onions or peppers or veggies, canned soups, dry goods to make fast meals on the go, etc.
As always, the best donations are cash donations. We’ll fill up a gallon jar (goal) and help the RE kids figure out how many people the money collected will feed for a day.

All donations are welcome all the time at the Food Shelf, including at this time of year, garden veggies.

We will do our 2nd Food Drive in March 2008.

Community Education

Local nonprofit organizations will be contacted to come to give short 5 to 10 minute inspirational/educational/spiritual messages about what they do and what they need, such as volunteers, wanted items lists, etc.

Environmental community

The committee will be discussing plans to try to help Beltrami County reinstate the citywide curbside recycling program. This is an ongoing discussion and any and all ideas are welcome.

Next scheduled meetings

We have decided this committee will meet the 3rd Sunday of every month at 9 AM prior to Sunday Services at the Senior Center: Oct. 21st, Nov. 18th, Dec. 16th. EVERYONE WELCOME TO ATTEND....Co-chairs: Carol Seibold and Karen Kimbrough

HUUF Board Mtg Summary, Sept. , 2007

Treasurers Report
Checking $4898 and money market $5650.
Building fund money mrkt & CDs $36,438.
Motion Let building fund sit for now (not meet $7000 goal) discuss at congregational meeting. Use money market funds if needed for general operations.
RE Funds Extra funds needed for RE program. We need to inform congregation of that need.
Action- Darin to ask Sue about people missed in the canvass. We’ll then ask them to pledge, if they’ve been missed.
Action- Valerie to request endowment funds to be put toward RE budget.

Committee Development
Liaisons to bring committee descriptions to their committees and work with chairs on objectives for this year.

RE Report
Review draft DRE Job Description & salary considerations
Action-Luke to organize RE committee
Give Deanne support

Action- Valerie to contact Phil Lund regarding DRE being contracted or HUUF employee and about benefits for DRE (salary, vacation, health insurance, stipend etc.) Need to line out other items in the RE budget. (supplies, training, consulting, etc.)
Motion: $12/hr, 10 hrs/week 42 weeks, plus benefits (1 week vacation, training expenses, etc.) to be determined.
The board reviewed salary and job description with Deanne.

Training Worship Coordinators
Oct. 7 date to be moved back to Nov. Training for all people who want to learn how to lead a service.
Congregation Leadership Conference Oct. 5-6 Up to $200 reimbursement available. Valerie to attend

"Spirit of Life," on-line adult curriculum

explores spirituality for UUs, using the lyrics of Carolyn McDade's song "Spirit of Life" as a starting point and framework of the first electronically published curriculum in the Tapestry of Faith lifespan faith development series. Go to:

Fifty congregations have been invited to implement "Spirit of Life" and provide feedback on its content and usability. All other congregations are welcome to use the program and submit informal feedback in the 2007-2008 church year. As the Tapestry of Faith series grows, there will be expanded offerings of free, flexible, and adaptable programs to fit a variety of congregational settings and needs.
Congregations can tailor the workshop length, format, & enrollment to suit their needs & preferences. The online curriculum provides all the background reading, handouts, & other resources needed to implement all of the activities.
As with the online curricula for adults, youth, and children in the Tapestry of Faith series that are forthcoming in 2008, congregations may download, customize, print, and duplicate any portion of the "Spirit of Life" programs without paying a fee.
The online launch of "Spirit of Life" represents a pioneering effort to foster spiritual growth and religious identity in our congregations by providing accessible, integrated, and easy-to-use religious education programs for all ages.

ANNUAL FAIR TRADE FESTIVAL
OCTOBER 6-7 AT ST. PHILIP’S

The 5th Annual Village Festival featuring fairly traded handicrafts, coffee, tea and chocolate from around the world will be held from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., October 6 and 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., October 7, at St. Philips Church.
Attractions, in addition to live music and children’s crafts, will include:
ÅòAn Empty Bowl lunch, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., October 6, offering a variety of soups donated by area restaurants and hand-thrown pottery bowls crafted by BSU students. The cost is a freewill offering or a $15 donation for lunch and a bowl. Proceeds will benefit the Cass Lake Family Center.
ÅòShifting Gears bicycle clinic for bikers who want to learn about bicycle maintenance, safety and fun & how to mentor a youth wanting to earn a bicycle. Donations of rust-free used bicycles will be accepted the day of the festival. Drawings will be held for new bicycle helmets. Affordable helmets also will be available for sale.
ÅòA fair-trade festival featuring handicrafts provided through Ten Thousand Villages and Guatemalan crafts from UPAVIM which translates toÅgUnited to Live Better.Åh A group of Bemidji volunteers who have worked with the UPAVIM women as mentors and friends for the last 17 years will share their stories and crafts at the festival.
ÅòFair-trade coffee, tea and chocolate, including chocolate samples and information about local retailers who provide those fair trade products.
Ten Thousand Villages is a member of International Federation for Alternative Trade (IFAT) and Fair Trade Federation (FTF), two groups
committed to the ideal that every worker should receive a fair wage for what they create. UPAVIM, also a FTF member, is a cooperative of Guatemalan women committed to bringing their community better employment opportunities,
education, wellness and more affordable housing and water.
Shifting Gears, a ministry of People’s Church in Bemidji, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to getting folks on bicycles for the
health of people, the community and the environment. For more information about the projects behind the festival events visit:

ÅòEmpty Bowls, www.emptybowls.net
ÅòTen Thousand Villages, www.tenthousandvillages.org
ÅòUPAVIM, www.upavim.org
For information about the festival, contact Sherry Kloha, 444-4919, or Cindy Serratore,444-6364.

CARING CONCERNS

Please keep in mind folks who are dealing with illness/operations right now. If you know of others, please let us know.
• Terry Anderson-Weir (surgery)
• Darin Miller (surgery)
• continued thoughts for Kathy Meyer dealing with cancer treatment
* Tom Lavelle (surgery)

BILL SINKFORD--UU MARKETING CAMPAIGN

I am delighted to share some exciting news with you today. We are preparing to launch the first national marketing campaign for Unitarian Universalism in fifty years!
Beginning in early October, as part of an effort to offer the good news of our faith to the larger world, the Unitarian Universalist Association will begin a partnership with Time Magazine and their web site, time.com.
(On October 5th, look in TIME magazine for a full page ad which asks the question, "Is God Keeping You Out of Church?" Over 20,000,000 Americans read TIME each week. Some of them will be coming to your congregation to find out if Unitarian Universalism can become their religious home. How will they be welcomed?)

"Advertorials" - printed material that promotes Unitarian Universalism and directs readers to a web archive of Time articles focusing on current religious and ethical issues
*Customized information on time.com directing users to specially designed pages on our web site, UUA.org.
This special campaign is designed to raise awareness of Unitarian Universalism and to share our unique message with a larger audience. Our
partnership with Time will ensure that Unitarian Universalism is an important voice in the religious landscape. This initiative will be a highlight of our first-ever Association Sunday, to be celebrated in
hundreds of congregations on and around October 14th. Association Sunday will offer all Unitarian Universalists an opportunity to support our movement's efforts to share the good news of our faith with a wider circle of seekers.
To help congregations in this vital work, we are providing many resources, including a comprehensive FAQ sheet, new hospitality tools, and much more. In addition, all of our congregations will soon receive a wonderful new DVD introducing Unitarian Universalism to visitors and spiritual seekers. This also will be a valuable tool for including new members. These innovative materials will help us reach a wider audience than ever before and I encourage you to find out more.
We will continue to update you as we approach the marketing launch in early October. These are exciting times for Unitarian Universalism as we step out into the world in a new way. I'd like to take this opportunity to extend my thanks in advance. Thank you for opening your doors, and your hearts, to the new possibilities on the horizon.
(On Thursday, October 4th, at 12:00 Eastern Standard Time, dial this toll-free number (877-844-6052) and join the informational call. Also, check out the new resources on welcoming guests at UUA.org. Just click on the announcement of the marketing campaign on the Home Page. Scroll down to find the "Related Content" box on the right hand side (below the TIME magazine cover). Click on "Belonging and Welcoming Resources.")

In faith,
William G. Sinkford, President UUA

CALENDAR

Oct. 2--Soup Kitchen, 3-5 & 5-7
Oct. 14--Highway Cleanup
Oct. 21, 9:00 AM--Social Action/Env Comm
Nov. 18, 9:00 AM--Social Action/Env Comm
Dec. 16, 9:00 AM--Social Action/Env Comm
June, 2008--GA, Ft. Lauderdale, FL
June, 2009,--GA, Salt Lake City, UT
June, 2010--GA, Minneapolis, MN

CURRENT RIPPLES
HEADWATERS UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST FELLOWSHIP
THE CONGREGATION THAT SEEKS TRUTH, PRACTICES LOVE AND CELEBRATES LIFE!!!

September 2007 PO Box 1906, Bemidji, MN, 56619

www.paulbunyan.net/users/neen/

WORSHIP SERVICE AT 10:00 AM
BEMIDJI SENIOR CENTER, 216 THIRD ST NW


September 9: Ingathering and Water Communion, Paul Kivi

Please join us as we kick off the year with discussion, music and a chance to share what you learned this summer. Don’t forget your water for the water communion! (But if you do forget, we’ll have some available.)   Paul Kivi--Coordinator

Snacks--Amy and Luke Rutten Greeter--Ted Anderson-Weir

RE--”Sunday Sundaes”--RE KICKOFF following the service,
childcare but no RE

September 16: Learning to Walk Through Locked Doors, Rev. Laurie Bushbaum

How do we move past a visible or invisible barrier?  How do we try when we have tried before and failed?  The true story of Sophia Fahs, a Baptist missionary turned Unitarian and the mother of modern Religious Education, provides us glimpses into how we walk into new land.
  Karen Kimbrough--Coordinator Greeter--Tricia Andrews

RE: Teacher Training with Laurie Bushbaum, childcare provided

September 23: High Holy Days of Judaism, Alan Goldberg
We will learn about the Jewish high holy days of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.
Alan Goldberg--Coordinator Greeters--Ellie & Bill Nelson

RE: Contingent on filling slots for volunteer teachers

September 30: Articulating Your UU Faith: Celebrating Our Heritage

Dann Siems will reflect on how Unitarians and Universalists of the past impact our faith today and how this heritage helps us each define who we are.  This interactive service is the first of several this year that will discuss what it means to be a UU, and how we can communicate this meaning to others (and to ourselves). 

Dann Siems--Coordinator Greeter--Mary Salter
RE: Contingent on filling slots for volunteer teachers

HUUF Membership Committee
“Start Up” Meeting
5 pm Wednesday, September 12
Lueken’s North Deli (near the fire place)

This meeting is for returning committee members as well as anyone interested in shaping the way we welcome and support our HUUF members and friends.  Items to discuss:

• The role of greeter and how to welcome visitors and guests;
• new member orientation;
• community visibility and outreach;
• the role this committee can play in deepening the involvement and commitment of current members.

If you have suggestions for this group, or would like to be involved in this committee but cannot make the meeting, please contact Tricia Andrews at 444-8936 or tandrews@girlscoutslolc.org.  Also, be sure to let Tricia know if you plan to attend.

Marlon and Don’s Exhibit

Founding Headwaters UU Fellowship member Marlon Davidson and his partner Don Knudson will exhibit recent collaborative works at the gallery space at Unity Church on Holly and Portland in St. Paul through the month of October. The works are all from wall pieces that the two artists have done which have a theme with attention to nature and containing mixed media, collage work by Davidson and wood assemblage by Knudson. These sculptures vary in size from a about a foot square to up to five and six feet in width or in height. Configurations may be circular, rectangular or more freeform. Both artists have work in the Bemidji Sculpture Walk and the collaborative pieces may be seen in the new Beltrami County Justice Building, North Country Regional Hospital, Bemidji Technical School, and in several spaces on the BSU campus. Davidson and Knudson have a relationship of nearly fifty years and have produced and exhibited their efforts since first meeting when they were students at Bemidji State College (BSU).

Take Back the Night
4:30-9:30 p.m. Tuesday, September 25
Headwaters Senior Center

Take Back the Night is an annual event to raise awareness of domestic and sexual assault against women and children.  This year’s event will consist of speakers, music, vendors, a march (at about 5:30 p.m.) and wagon rides, as well as a chance for those affected by violence to speak out in a safe, empowering environment.  The primary sponsors are the Sexual Assault Program and Northwoods Coalition for Battered Women. Our own Neen Lillquist will give the invocation, and Luke and Amy Rutten are musical guests.  It is a great family event – plan to come!
HUUF members and friends have supported this event in the past by providing a chili meal, and we have the opportunity to once again take part. Ways to support this community event are:
• Provide a pot of chili (in a crock pot or pan that can be plugged in)
• Provide a pan of corn bread
• Provide cookies or bars
• Serve the meal at the event. 
 (4:00-6:00 or 6:00-8:00)
• Donate $5 toward the cost of paper bowls, cups, lemonade etc.
The cost of the meal will be $4, with the majority of the proceeds supporting Take Back the Night (20% will be contributed to HUUF). If you are able to provide food or would like to help serve the meal, please contact Tricia Andrews at 444-8936 or tandrews@girlscoutslolc.org.  

2007 Goods & Services Auction--
Tops Record!!

The 2007 Goods & Services Auction was the most successful ever! Financially, variety of donations, and fun! Almost $3,000 was received from the wild (nearly ruthless, but friendly) bidding. People are enjoying eating (meals, chickens, rhubarb, bread and cheese), drinking (wine & beer parties-socially responsible of course), canoeing, wearing jewelry,
listening to music & poetry and on and on!
Thanks to all who donated, bought and enjoyed! Special thanks to Paul as auctioneer and Alan as clerk! I did enjoy my fantasy role as "Vanna" for the event!
Start thinking of creative ideas for next year. We need to top this one, right? Will be hard, but we can do it!!
Sue Nokleby, Chair

Strategic Planning--July 14, 2007

(note--due to the importance of these session for the future of the entire congregation, I have included them and hope that you will take the time to read this more than usual lengthly report. Neen)

Present: Terry Anderson-Weir, Barb Houg, Luke Rutten, Darin Miller, Valerie Field, Jane McKelvy, Neen Lillquist, Karen Kimbrough, Paul Kivi, Candy Roberts, Jules Rubey, Dann Siems

Dreams Longings
Fellowship remains strong place for my children
Presence in the community. Identifiable group (e.g. listed under churches in tourism book)
Own identifiable space. (place for a library)
Sustainability
Force
Children able to explore spirituality
Youth programming for middle and high school aged youth
Continue sharing of ideas
Continue ritual services (marking of time)
Keep quality of services high
Explore adult religious education