First Unitarian Church of Cleveland 
Church E-Blast and
RE-Connect
MAY 24
2015

Thank you to the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Bay County for the image.
Read all about the myriad of events happening at The First Unitarian Church of Cleveland below. Take a few minutes to peruse, sign up, and learn more! Remember that any word that is underlined and in teal is a link, either to another website or to an email address. Happy reading!
Thank You!
To the many volunteers who helped make this year's Garden Festival a success! We couldn't have done it without you!
Sunday Service:
MAY 24
11:00 - 12:00 PM
In the Sanctuary

"A Religion of Duty"
Mr. Mark Weber

Music: Crystal Carlson, soprano & Geoffrey Sanford, oboe
Heritage Committee Workshop Postponed
THE HERITAGE COM. WORKSHOP HAS BEEN POSTPONED and will be rescheduled for the fall. 
Board and Nominating Committee Nominees

To see the complete list of Board Nominees, click HERE.
Church Closed
MONDAY, MAY 25
In observance of Memorial Day.
Mini History Available

The First Unitarian Church of Cleveland will turn 150 in 2017!!  Beginning to focus on our 150th Anniversary in 2017, Historian Virginia Dawson has prepared "A Brief View Overview of the History of First Unitarian Church in Cleveland: Bond of Union" at the request of the Heritage Committee. Very interesting reading. Copies are available in the Church office.
Regular Garden Maintenance
EVERY WEDNESDAY
10:00 am to Noon

Low-key puttering and conversation. Center your week.  Contact: Eileen McCully.
Honoring Fern's Retirement: 
Tickets Sales Continue For June 20th Dinner

DINNER, SATURDAY, JUNE 20

 Our Director of Music, Fern Jennings, is retiring! 

 

Dinner, Saturday, June 20

Come to dinner at First Unitarian in Fellowship Hall to honor Fern and her decade of musical contributions. Cocktails will be at 6:00 pm with dinner following at 7:00 pm and entertainment at 8:00 pm. Tickets will be sold in Coffee Hour starting May 10. $25 per person, in advance. 


 

The Fern Fund for Music
Contribute to the special "Fern Fund." This fund will be used to hire musicians and present musical performances at First Unitarian in years to come. Donations can be made in cash, by check or through First Unitarian website www.firstunitariancleveland.org. Please make checks out to the First 
Unitarian Church of Cleveland and note "Fern Fund" in the memo area. 


 

Questions?  Contact Barbara Bradley at 216-295-0941 or Carol Gay at 216-496-1420. 
Oxford Permaculture Project
SATURDAYS, JUNE 6 & 13

Experienced lasagna mulchers needed. We think permaculture can be applied in a big way to revive integrated neighborhoods starting in the Oxford/Noble Neighborhood of Cleveland Heights. We'll be using the same techniques we used at First Unitarian on Saturdays, June 6 and 13.  Contact Tom Gibson at 216-932-8733 or at granvilletgibson@gmail.com for details. 

 

Music and Poetry in the Garden

JUNE 3
7:30 PM
Permaculture Garden
Join Music Director Fern Jennings for an evening of music and poetry on Wednesday, June 3 at 7:30 pm. We will sing some well-known or easy to learn songs from Singing the Journey, our hymn supplement, and share evening or garden poems in our beautiful permaculture garden. In case of rain we will meet in the Sanctuary.
Piano Concert on June 2
TUESDAY, JUNE 2
7:30 PM, in Sanctuary

Robert Cassidy, piano will perform the complete Preludes of Claude Debussy in recital here in our Sanctuary on Tuesday, June 2 at 7:30 pm. A free-will offering will be accepted.


 

This performance will be Cassidy's first musical offering of this magical repertoire as a complete set. This program follows the recordings of the repertoire that was completed in February  2015. The release of the first book of Preludes on Albany Records in 2011 has been met with great acclaim. The recording of the second book of Preludes will be released later this year. Cassidy's 2011 recording will be available for purchase at the concert on June 2. You won't want to miss this concert of lovely music for an early summer evening's concert. 


 

From Cleveland's Plain Dealer: Cleveland pianist Robert Cassidy demonstrates a keen grasp of varied styles on his new recital disc, which spans three centuries. He shapes the first book of Debussy's "Preludes" with delicate and expressive sensitivity, savoring the magical atmospheres.    
Helping Hands Needs You

We are a group of volunteer helpers at church who have signed up to assist people with rides, meals, groceries, and whatever other requests may come our way.  But we have only 16 actively involved people among our ranks, and with many of them working or being geographically far-flung, it's often difficult to find someone for a given task. Cheryl Hanger and Jackie Stimpert would like to invite the whole church community to join us in helping others in our congregation.  Currently we have three or four people who need ongoing rides to church (Mayfield Heights, Judson Manor, South Euclid, and occasionally Bedford), one person requiring weekly groceries (South Euclid), one needing occasional walks for a dog and a ride to school for a daughter through the end of the school year (Shaker Heights).  If you live in or near one of these communities and think you can help, please give Cheryl (216-381-2053) or Jackie (216-291-1605) a call.  Let's truly be the Church of the Helping Hands.  Thank you. 
Carry Alburn Library
Some Summer Reading Possibilities 

  • The Science of Good and Evil: Why People Cheat, Gossip, Care, Share, and Follow the Golden Rule by Michael Shermer
  • Living the Secular Life: New Answers to Old Questions by Phil Zuckerman
  • The Radical King by Martin Luther King, Jr.
  • The Checklist Manifesto: How to Get Things Right by Atul Gawande
  • The Four Things That Matter Most by Ira Byock, M.D.
  • Deep River: The Life and Music of Robert Shaw by Keith C. Burris


RE-CONNECT BELOW

New YRE On-Line Registration Now Open!
Catch the Spirit!


Our RE Classes provide religious exploration through the lens of our liberal faith, a dedicated place to be still and reflective outside the hustle and bustle of daily life, and opportunities to celebrate the awe and wonder of the world around us.  Please take a moment now to register your child(ren) or youth for our engaging program. Be sure to review the many volunteer opportunities available to you as a parent or guardian in our RE program.
You can also purchase '1st UU' T-Shirts to benefit the Youth Religious Education program when you register on-line for the 2015-2016 RE Season! 
Summer Programming

July 17, July 26, August 2
Room 106
11:00 am

With the leveraging of available resources and our deep respect for the interdependent web of existence, our Summer RE programming will now focus on helping young children become good environmental citizens.  With an emphasis on environmental education, this three Sunday multi-age program will focus on experience rather than teaching, have frequent positive experiences outdoors, and demonstrate enjoyment of and respect for the natural world. (Please note that this does indicate a change in the previously announced curriculum.) 

Session will run in room 106 on July 19, July 26, and August 2 at 11am.  We are still recruiting teaching assistants! Please direct your interest to RE Coordinator, Sarah Megenhardt at  reassistant.cle@gmail.com
OWL Programming for Senior High Schoolers!

MAY 10 - JUNE 7
NO OWL this Sunday, May 24th.

Thank you to everyone for being so patient and kind as the District reexamined OWL and it's delivery! The following is what was decided on after much thought and attention!
OWL will focus on the Relationship track and take place during RE as follows:
MAY 10th: 11:00 am - 12:45 pm
MAY 17th: 11:00 am - 12:30 pm
MAY 31st: 11:00 am - 1:00 pm
June 7th: 11:00 - 1:00 pm
Last Day of RE!       
MAY 31st

The year has flown by. Thank you for making it a huge success! Per tradition, you will:
  • Help clean out your classroom
  • Have popsicles on the lawn
  • Play games
Please join us for this great RE community event.
Contact Us

Mitzvah of the Month

MAY

 

Fern Retirement Dinner

JUNE 20  
Fellowship Hall, During Coffee Hour

Come to dinner at First Unitarian in Fellowship Hall to honor Fern and her decade of musical contributions. Cocktails will be at 6:00 pm with dinner following at 7:00 pm and entertainment at 8:00 pm. Tickets will be sold in Coffee Hour starting May 10. $25 per person, in advance. 

 

Our Whole Lives Facilitator Training 
REGISTRATION IS OPEN
Training: JULY 24-26
OWL Training HERE This Summer! 
click. read. register.
Greater Cleveland Congregations: BRELO VERDICT

THE MONDAY AFTER THE BRELO VERDICT 
NOON, at The Free Stamp

GREATER CLEVELAND CONGREGATIONS will hold a gathering three days after the Brelo verdict is announced, at 11:30 am at The Old Stone Church on Public Square, where a teach-in will be held.  GCC's main point is to call for significant long term reform, involving not just the police department, but getting many people in the county to support the reforms in GCC's written proposal and more.  We have committed to at least 15 members from First Unitarian to this action and you may sign up to be one of them after worship on Sunday, or you can contact Laurie Albright during the week by phone or email: 216-371-8163 or at  ljalbright@hotmail.com to participate.
 
T-Shirts Are In!  
MAY 24

Pick up your shirt during Coffee Hour this Sunday!

SUNDAY, MAY 31 
6:00 PM to 9:00 PM

The next play reading is on Sunday, May 31 from 6:00pm to 9:00pm. Please RSVP to Scott Hare at 216-932-9751 or email  hares@nationwide.com

RE-CONNECT BELOW

Sneak Peek

A LOOK AHEAD

COA TRIP TO JUDSON: May 31
LAST DAY OF RE: May 31
RE SUNDAY: June 7
OMD Summer Institute 
JULY 12 - 18
OMD Summer Institute July 12-18!
Check out all of the info about SI, happening at Oberlin College! 

(Children of all ages welcome!)
 
COA Trip To Judson

May 31st
11:00 am
Mark your calendars for this rewarding event. Parents, please consider volunteering to drive, if you are able.

Also, don't forget that Bethany Ward has planned for you to participate in Small Group Ministry during RE for the next regularly scheduled RE classes. Please continue going to the 8th grade classroom. ~Thanks!
RE Sunday       
JUNE 7

RE Sunday is a multigenerational celebration in worship of the year we've had together. 

Teachers: If you would like to share your class's story with the congregation, please email Sarah Megenhardt or Bethany Ward
Bethany Ward and Sarah Megenhardt Away

Bethany will be away June 8- 13, for professional development.

Sarah will be away June 11- 15, in celebration of her eldest daughter successfully launching (graduating high school).