Rev. David Hutchinson, Minister, 446-6858
Rev. Martha Newman, Minister Emerita
Sarah Lovejoy, Moderator, 532-2831
Ann Rheinlander, Treasurer, 532-3383
Karen Klahr, Newsletter, 532-4051
Church Phone, 532-9269

Newsletter - December 2003

First Church of Houlton,
Unitarian-Universalist
61 Military St.
Houlton, ME 04730

MINISTER'S COLUMN

Write it on your heart, that everyday is the best day of the year.
The measure of a person is their apprehension of the day.  The
learned scholar is not one who unearths ancient history, but 
who can unfold the theory of this particular Wednesday.

				- Ralph Waldo Emerson
I'm sitting here at my desk trying to unfold the theory of this particular Thursday morning. (Newsletter deadlines probably have something to do with it…) A human tendency is to look too far back or too far ahead, but Emerson reminds us to take each day as the entrance to realization. If we can crack the code of today, our past and our future take care of themselves through new insight. Our struggles are to a great extent the production of the mind. If we can arrive at a new working theory for each day, even the more difficult challenges ease off. This has not been an easy year. Violence and injustice are in the headlines every day and we need a sound theory to make sense of it and to aid in a response. When confusion is dominant, sanity gains appeal. If that's true, then I take that as a good sign for our times!! At least it's an optimistic way to enter the new year.

It also helps to have daily markers along with the theories. One of the markers we have at our cabin is a Deitz kerosene lantern hanging outside on the porch. The basic design hasn't changed for close to a century and it copes well with rain and wind. If Linda is arriving late, I'll leave the lantern on for her as a welcoming gesture and she does the same for me. I guess you could say it's the backwoods version of Motel Six. The simple practice of lighting a lantern on a dark night is a marker of reality. Anna Quindlen writes, "The leaves of November will give way to the dirty ice of February and the Popsicle wrappers of July, and those are sometimes the only markers for years at a time." I think markers are everywhere. It's up to us to find them as they unfold in the theory of this particular day. The new year is before us.

                                                     In Ministry,      DAVE

NEW YEAR'S DAY MEDITATION AND BRUNCH
This is our fifth New Year's Day Meditation and Brunch. A group of us went to Morgan Bay Zendo in Surrey, Maine back on New Years Day of 1999 in the middle of a snowstorm. (24 degrees below zero...) We decided hosting our own event would be easier than doing that again!! The morning consists of two twenty minute sittings (zazen), mindful movement (kinhin), and a short Dharma talk followed by a ceremonial sounding of the Hahn to usher in the new year. Please bring a cushion and a mat. We have a few extra zafus and zabutons you can try, and of course, a chair or one of our couches is always an acceptable Buddhist option. No prior experience is necessary. If you can sit in a chair for twenty minutes, you'll make out fine. It's a great way to quietly honor entering a new year.
WORDS OF THANKS
Thanks to all the people who worked so hard to prepare for our Centennial Month events!
UPCOMING WINTER PROGRAMS
We have begun the planning process for Discussion groups and Fireside Chats for this winter. We have no firm dates yet, please be in touch if there is anything of interest to you.

  • For January there 2 (possibly more) videos and discussion. Tentative dates are Jan 12th and 26th.
    The first - Uncovered: The whole truth about the Iraq war. The story of how truth became the first American casualty in Iraq. This controversial and arresting film takes you behind the walls of government as CIA, Pentagon and foreign service experts speak out, many for the first time, detailing the lies, misstatements and exaggerations that served as the reasons to fight a pre-emptive war that was not necessary.
    The second - is about depleted uranium munitions in the 1st Gulf War.

  • For February the topic will be paganism. Date and time TBA.

  • For March - Finding Solace: Learning from the Hard Times Join a group of people interested in sharing the ways we each have found to deal with the tough times in our lives--how we grieve and move beyond grief, how we overcome depression or sadness, how we learn from disappointment or failure, how we get past the past. Sue Glick will facilitate this discussion. Date and time TBA.

  • For April - Intuition as a spiritual path. Robin will give a short presentation about how to develop your intuition (the still small voice). She will provide a short handout with her explanations and suggestions, listing book titles she has found to be helpful. She'll talk of her experiences and share what has worked for her. Come and share what you know. We can all learn from each other! Date and time TBA.
    CALENDAR
    Dec 25
    		 Christmas Eve service in the parlor - Rev. David Hutchinson        
    Dec 28
    		 Sunday service - Fred Griffith
    Jan 1
    		 New Year's Morning Meditation followed by brunch
    Jan 4
    		 Sunday service - Rev. David Hutchinson
    Jan 10
    		 Film Night in the Parlor, 6pm
    Jan 11
    		 Sunday service - followed by the Annual Meeting
    Jan 17
    		 Coffeehouse in the basement, 7-9:30pm
    Jan 18
    		 Sunday service - TBA (MLK birthday)
    Jan 25
    		 Sunday service - Rev. David Hutchinson
    Feb 1
    		Sunday service - Susan Glick
    Feb 7
    		 Saturday Morning Meditation in the Parlor, 8am
    Feb 7
    		 Film Night in the Parlor, 6pm
    Feb 8
    		 Sunday service - Rev. David Hutchinson
    Feb 14
    		 Coffeehouse in the basement, 7-9:30pm
    Feb 15
    		 Sunday service - Ann Rheinlander
    Feb 22
    		 Sunday service - Rev. David Hutchinson
    Feb 29
    		 Sunday service - TBA
    March 6
    		 Saturday Morning Meditation in the Parlor, 8am
    March 6
    		 Film Night in the Parlor, 6pm
    March 7
    		Sunday service - Bruce Glick
    March 13
    		 Coffeehouse in the basement, 7-9:30pm
    March 14
    		 Sunday service - Rev. David Hutchinson
    March 21
    		 Sunday service - Leigh Griffith
    March 28
    		 Sunday service - Rev. David Hutchinson
    April 3
    		 Saturday Morning Meditation in the Parlor, 8am
    April 10
    		 Film Night in the Parlor, 6pm
    April 4
    		 Sunday service - TBA (Daylight Savings Time begins)
    April 11
    		 Sunday service - Rev. David Hutchinson (Easter)
    April 17
    		 Coffeehouse in the basement, 7-9:30pm
    April 18
    		Sunday service - Karen Klahr (Earth Day)
    April 25
    		Sunday service - Rev. David Hutchinson
    May 1
    		 Saturday Meditation group in the parlor, 8am
    May 2
    		 Sunday service - Linda Rowe
    May 8
    		 Film Night in the Parlor, 6pm
    May 9
    		 Sunday service - Rev. David Hutchinson (Mother's Day)
    May 15
    		 Coffeehouse in the basement, 7-9:30pm
    May 16
    		 Sunday service - TBA
    May 23
    		 Sunday service - TBA
    May 30
    		 Sunday service - Rev. David Hutchinson (Memorial Day)
    June 5
    		 Saturday Morning Meditation in the Parlor, 8am
    June 19
    		 Coffeehouse in the basement, 7-9:30pm

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