Meet Your Ministerial Candidate: Rev. Dr. Claudene "Deane" F. Oliva

First, please allow me to put you at ease concerning the pronunciation of my name.

Although I am officially the Reverend Doctor Claudene F. Oliva (oh LEE vah), try Deane, pronounced "DEE-knee."

I was raised in White Plains, a well integrated suburb of New York City. I received a bachelor's degree from Antioch College, a master's degree from the New School for Social Research, a Ph.D. from the George Peabody College of Vanderbilt University and a post doctoral fellowship at Tufts New England Medical School Hospital.

I have spent many years working as a clinical and school neuropsychologist, primarily in the Tennessee-Kentucky area. I have a 24 year old daughter who lives in Nashville, Tennessee and is in "Communication Arts," meaning that she acts, sings, dances and choreographs. My partner Karen and I have been a part of each other's lives for 21 years. We had a civil union in 2007 and were married in California in 2008, so we 4 are some form of "legal" in approximately 14 states!

Raised Roman Catholic, I was unchurched for many adult years before taking up a Buddhist spiritual practice and joining the Unitarian Universalist Church of Bowling Green Kentucky. Like many UUs, I threw myself into church life, founding a youth group, chairing the social action/justice committee and then, of course, joining the Board as the President-elect before applying to seminary.

In 2007, I received a Master of Divinity degree from Meadville Lombard Theological School and a Certificate in Spiritual Direction from the Institute for Spiritual Leadership in Chicago. I took a one- year consulting ministry in Santa Cruz California before accepting a call at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Evansville. UUCE is a small, gutsy church that tried hard to afford a full-time minister, but the deterioration of the economy over the past few years has meant that they have had to put that dream on hold for the near future.

Nevertheless, it's been a fruitful three years in a loving congregation and, I believe, that we have each grown from the experience.

I continue my Zen practice, formally meditating several times a week and often enjoying contemplative breaks. I have a strong affinity for our Universalist heritage and have enjoyed integrating the message that "God is love" into my non-theist spiritual framework.

I love my work and also relish my free time. I have recently taken up golf which has become an outdoor blessing. I play duplicate bridge and I line dance whenever the opportunity presents itself. I love heat and the
water and look forward to exploring Michigan's waterways. So far, I have always found a way to see each of my daughter's productions.

Karen is a visual artist; she and I love to travel, particularly to the Southwest. We also enjoy days out with our three dogs: Maya, a two-year-old golden retriever "puppy," Maggie, a fourteen-year-old mini doxi, and Cassie, a fourteen-year-old toy poodle. We are excited to be coming to Flint!
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Vote on the New Minister—Become a Member by April 17!

Thinking about becoming a member? Now is a great time to make this important commitment in your life since only members can vote on the new minister on May 15. You must be a member for one month prior to the vote, according to our congregation’s constitution, so the deadline for becoming a new member is April 17. Please consider participating in the Pathways to Membership on both Friday, April 15 from 7-9 pm and Sunday, April 17 from 12:30-2 pm which includes lunch. If you are interested in becoming a member, please confirm your commitment to Pathways participation by contacting Marion Van Winkle or Philip Greenfield.

2011 Summer Program for Children: UU Principles in Story and Song

The Unitarian Universalist Church of Flint Presents:
2011 Summer Program for Children:
UU Principles in Story and Song

Do you know of a story or song that reflects our UU Principles or values? Share it with our children and youth this summer! Signing up to lead a fun and engaging lesson for the budding UUs in our community is simple:

1.) Pick a Book or song
2.) Attend our Summer Teacher Workshop on Sunday, May1, 2011 from 12:30-2pm to develop an activity to accompany your story (and bring a friend!)
3.) Sign up to lead your lesson on a Sunday that works in your schedule!

To share your stories and songs with our children and youth, please contact Deb Simmons or Amy Peterson Derrick.

Today’s Lessons for the Month of April

While we recognize the sanctuary as a sacred space in our beloved community, we also take time to recognize that our children and youth have also embarked on a path of personal and spiritual discovery, and carry with them the spirit of worship and loving community as they continue to develop and deepen their sense of our UU faith with one another.

Nursery and Tots: birth-age 4
Each week in April, we celebrate our Earth! With stories and crafts we will
talk about what the Earth means to us!

Lower Elementary: ages 5-7
April 3: Children’s Chapel* The Interdependent Web
April 10: Love surrounds us in Nature
April 17: Caring for the Earth
April 24: No Class- Easter/ Earth Day worship service for all ages

Upper Elementary: ages 8-10
April 3: Children’s Chapel* The Interdependent Web
April 10: All Work Together
April 17: The More we Get Together
April 24: No Class- Easter/ Earth Day worship service for all ages

Junior High: ages 11-13
April 3: Children’s Chapel* The Interdependent Web
April 10: Hinduism
April 17: Buddhism
April 24: No Class- Easter/ Earth Day worship service for all ages
*Children’s Chapels are held upstairs in the Chapel located in the RE Wing of the building

MSC: Mark your calendar for May 8- 15!

March was a hectic month for the Ministerial Search Committee. The UUA mandated that we could not contact our precandidate until March 15th at noon to offer the candidacy. While we waited for this time period to arrive, we spent our time planning Candidating Week events.

Finally, March 15th arrived, and we made the phone call, prepared with a song and back-up guitar, party-poppers, and fireworks in hand...

With joy, Rev. Dr. Claudene "Deane" Oliva (DEE-knee oh LEE vah) said she'd love to be our candidate! Her biography is printed in April newsletter, and copies of the same can be found in the Narthex brochure rack.

Since her acceptance to be our candidate, there has been much communication between Deane and the MSC as we continue to discuss the details of Candidating Week. Two things are now certain: the dates, and the fact that we will have lots of fun and/or informative events at which the congregation and Deane can get to know each other before the congregation votes whether or not to call her to UUCF.

Mark your calendar May 8-15 for Candidating Week! The week begins with Deane's first service on Potluck Sunday. While this is also Mother's Day, we hope you will invite your mother or mother-figures to join us at our introductory potluck celebration.

During the week, there will be several smallergroup opportunities to meet and talk with Deane in various locations and venues (Good Beans, the church, at member's homes).Finally, we will have one more opportunity to hear Deane on Sunday, May 15 before the congregation votes after the service to call her to UUCF. Members and friends of UUCF are invited and encouraged to come to all of the events, but we NEED members in church on May 8 and 15 for the services and congregational vote following the May 15th service. Your presence will help us meet the quorum necessary to vote, and your vote will determine whether or not Deane can and will accept our call. (The UUA recommends ministers not accept a call if less than 90% vote in favor of the call!) Look for a detailed agenda to arrive in the mail at home in the coming weeks. The week of events will also be published in the May newsletter.

Planning events for introducing you to the BEST minister for THIS church at THIS time,

Carrie Hoffman, for your Ministerial

Search Committee