CANDIDATING WEEK: Schedule of Events

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.

Date/Day	MORNING	AFTERNOON	EVENING
05/0711 Sat.			Eat & Greet at Rayna Bick's home with MSC 5 to 7pm
05/08/11 Sun.	Sunday service	2nd Sunday Potluck  & Welcome program with Deane Data Quiz	5-7pm Meeting with Worship Interest Group at UUCF
05/09/11 Mon.		Luncheon at Smith-Howard home in Flushing @ Noon [Meet Amy Derrick, Dir. LSL @ 2:30-4:30p]	Family event with Diane Vack and Amy Derrick 5:30-7:30p at UUCF Bring the whole family for food and conversation!
05/10/11 Tue.	[Meet Cheryl Craig 10:30-11:30a  UUCF office]	[Meet with worship team if desire 2pm] Finance Interest Group 4p @ UUCF	Board Dinner 6-8 pm
05/11/11 Wed.	10a-12n Drop In at Good Beans Café 12-12:30 Tina Putney, Green Sanctuary at Good Beans Café	4:30-6 Operations 6p Meet Pia Broden Williams 6:30p Meet the Choir	Open House at the Straw Home in Grand Blanc 7-9pm
05/12/11 Thur.		12:30 Meeting UUSC with Pam Pinti Non Violent Communication Group 1:30-3:30p Drop In to 5p	5:30- 7p FACT Leadership Cluster
05/13/11 Fri.		1:30 -3pm Membership & Communication 4-6p Drop In for Theology Rap	Open house at the Simons residence, Davison 7-9p
05/14/11 Sat.		12-2 Green Team Reps. at lunch	Service Auction at UUCF! 5:30-8pm
05/15/11 Sun.	Sunday Service followed by Congregational Meeting to vote on candidate	Hopefully & prayerfully a coffee hour celebration!!

Special Announcement!

Welcome to the “Dream Team” for Lifespan Faith Development and Religious Education!

Are you interested in working with our children and youth, developing curriculum and discussing our UU religious education philosophy? Here is an opportunity for you!

You are cordially invited to meet together as our team, to lead the congregation as we envision the lifespan faith development program we want to create.

Come dream with us, come play with us. We will chose our destination and discover together what gifts we have to share on the journey.

Our first planning session will be on Thursday April 28^th, 2011 at 6:30 pm in the Chapel

See you there!

June Urdy, Board Liaison to Lifespan Learning

 and Amy Peterson Derrick, Director of Lifespan Learning

Thinking About Child Dedication?

Unitarian Universalists joyfully welcome children into our community with ceremonies of Child Dedication. We will be offering opportunities this year for participation in a group dedication during our worship at the annual Wheel of Life Celebration on May 22. You may be wondering what Child Dedication involves, so here are some answers to common questions about this rite of passage.

What is Child Dedication?
The Unitarian Universalist tradition celebrates the birth of children as well as the entry of older children into our community when their parent(s) become members. This tradition echoes the longstanding rituals of many faiths that welcome new life into the community and the world.

What is the ritual?
We affirm the beauty of each child, bless them, officially present their names and pledge the support of the entire congregation in nurturing our children. Special music, readings and affirmations create a memorable occasion for all. A special certificate and a rose without thorns is given to each child.

Can my child have godparents?
Sometimes parents choose to select godparents to serve a special role as spiritual guardians of their children. The ceremony can include godparents if the parents desire it.

Can we have a private ceremony with family and friends?
Yes, private child dedications are available to all members if that style of dedication is more suited to your family tradition. Sometimes a more intimate ceremony can be tailored to include elements of other faith traditions, which can be helpful and sensitive for families of mixed faith backgrounds. Otherwise, we offer the opportunity for group dedications at Christmas Eve and at the Wheel of Life Celebration in May.

My child is older and was never dedicated as an infant. Can s/he be dedicated now?
Child are precious to us at all ages. Older children are very welcome to participate in a child dedication and often appreciate the opportunity when they see little ones dedicated. It is meant to be a meaningful and important moment in their young lives.

What should my child wear?

Just like on Sunday morning, we come to this church as we are, so no special clothing is needed. However, if you have christening gowns or other special clothing for dedicating infants, you are most welcome to dress your child in these traditional clothes.

How can we participate this year?
Talk with Rev. Shelley Page about your interest in this group dedication. Call her office at 810-877-6732 or email minister@uuflint.org You can also talk with her about scheduling a private ceremony. If you want to have your child dedicated on May 22, please let her know by May 15.

Faithful Footprints

It is amazing how our members, young and old, are living our UU Principles each and every day. These footprints (from big feet, little feet, hand prints or tire treads!) are making our world a better place for us and for the generations to come.

Here are some of the amazing gifts the members of our congregation have offered to the world:

“Prayers and Sharing”
“Appreciated Spring”
“Supporting Planned Parenthood…”
“Helping my parents light the chalice”
“Speak truth- listen-repeat”
“Recognizing the interdependence of all life”
“Help my sister clean her room”
“take care of my cat”

What "footprints" have you left behind? You can contribute your footprints during our service on Sunday mornings and take the time to "walk" our path to read more of these amazing gifts.

If you are interested in assisting with the continuation of this project, please contact Amy Peterson Derrick:
Director-lifespanlearning@uuflint.org

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

Creating Community

Did you know that volunteering for church events and duties as a family can be fun and easy? 

Sign up to usher with your children or volunteer to work a fundraiser; it can help your child feel like a part of our UU community and can be a fun way to work together as a family!

Have more ideas for other ways to create opportunities for multi-age community and service? Add them below!

Lifespan Lessons

While our Sunday morning Lifespan Learning classes are a rich source for growth and faith development for our children and youth, there are also many other opportunities for faith development and growth that aren’t always as obvious. 

As a congregation filled with families with children, we can help each other create and value these teachable moments.  On Sunday mornings, stop and take notice; what other teachable moments do you see?

·         Build Community

o   Did you know that simply attending church on Sunday morning can be an important lesson for our children and youth?  Our kids need the opportunity to be a part of a community with other children, youth, and adults who share the Principles taught in their homes

·         Begin in the service

o   The first 15-20 minutes of our worship service each Sunday is developed with ALL ages in mind.  Even though a squirmy preschooler or crying baby can be hard to ignore, please be mindful that our children and youth are learning how to be a part of a community in worship.  This means that while parents and grandparents take care to teach our children and youth how to be respectful and honor our worshipful space we can give our families support and celebrate this part of the journey.

·          Let’s work together

o   Volunteering is an important part of our congregational life.  We can show our children and youth the value of working together for a common cause simply by inviting them to take part in work parties, helping in the kitchen on Sunday mornings, or even just encouraging them to help take care of our church home by picking up at the end of the day. 

·         Grow Leaders

o   Our older youth have many gifts to share, including budding leadership skills.  If your committee is looking for some new volunteers, consider asking a youth to serve on your committee.  This can provide our youth with skills that will stick with them as future adult members of a congregation as well as in many other arenas.