Genesis as a Spiritual Text
September 8 – 22
Wednesdays, 7- 8:30 p.m.
Fireside Room
Many of us already know that the book of Genesis contains some of the Bible’s “greatest hits,” including the stories of the Creation, the Great Flood, the Tower of Babel, and Sodom and Gomorrah, but what do these stories have to do with the lives of contemporary Unitarian Universalists? And what spiritual wisdom can they impart? Join Cindi Brown for an exploration of these questions.
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Adult Religious Education Classes for Wednesday, September 8, at 7 p.m.
Wednesday Night Dinners Menus
All are welcome at 6 p.m. in the FUUN social area. $7 per person; $15 family maximum. No reservations needed.
September 8: Post-Labor Day Labor Day Menu: Lemony roast chicken or vegetarian cassoulet; zucchini, tomato and basil gratin; peperonata with toasts; fresh fruit
September 15: Still Summer, but Just: Stuffed cabbage (omni and veg versions) with late summer vegetable sauce, cucumber salad, herbed orzo salad, and chocolate pudding with mix & match toppings
September 20: TBA
September 27: TBA
October 6: Fall’s First Flush: Gypsy Soup with optional chicken dumplings, autumn salad, corn muffins and pumpkin-pecan pie
October 13: Autumn Farm Bounty: Roast beef or tempeh stir-fried with yams and apples, potato gratin, roast beet & arugula salad and spice cake.
October 20: Falling Leaf Colors: Chicken braised in red wine vinegar or oven-baked “chicken-fried” tofu and gravy, butternut squash with black beans, radicchio salad, and roasted autumn fruits with torched sabayon
October 27: TBA
Adult Religious Education Classes for Sunday, September 5, at 10:30 a.m.
Science as a Belief System
August 29 – October 3
Sundays, 10:30 a.m. – noon
Fireside Room
This class, led by Lauren and Mike Kohut, seeks to thoughtfully reflect on what it means to draw on “reason and the results of science” as a source for our faith. For these sessions, we will look critically at the “New Atheists,” a group of scholars whose popular books have used science and philosophy to attack religion. On September 5th and 12th, we will look at excerpts from Daniel Dennett’s book Breaking the Spell: Religion as a Natural Phenomenon. We encourage everyone to take a look at the readings before each meeting, but there are always opportunities for those who do not have time to read to contribute and participate in the discussion! Suggested readings and other links of interest are available on our Facebook page, which can be accessed by clicking the icon below. You do not need to be member to view the page.
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Sanctuary Expansion Task Force
The Board is recruiting people for a small task force to create a plan, on behalf of the Congregation, to expand the Sanctuary and create a new social area in the west wing of the Church building. This is the next follow up step to the expansion approved at our June Congregational meeting. If you are interested in participating in the task force, please contact Jennifer Orth at the church office and let us know why you would like to participate and what skills you will bring to the task. Please encourage anyone that you think would be great at this to contact Jennifer. The task force will consist of 7 people who will have a combination of skills including:
· experience in a design process
· excellent communication skills
· experience putting on events
· ability to create a plan within a given budget and timeline
· great listening skills
Those interested in participating must be available for weekly meetings for about 6 months (may not be every week but there will be a lot). Some meetings will be with the task force and others will be with members of the Congregation. This is a working task force where each member may have responsibilities between meetings. The plan is to have the process completed by next spring.
The Board plans to review the list of interested people at the next meeting on September 14th.
Thank you for your interest,
Pat Lynch, Board Representative to the task force
The board is recruiting people for a small task force to create a plan, on behalf of the congregation, to expand the sanctuary and create a new social area in the west wing of the church building. This is the next follow up step to the expansion approved at our June congregational meeting. If you are interested in participating in the task force, please contact Jennifer Orth at the church office and let us know why you would like to participate and what skills you will bring to the task. Please encourage anyone that you think would be great at this to contact Jennifer. The task force will consist of seven people who will have a combination of skills including
- experience in a design process
- excellent communication skills
- experience putting on events
- ability to create a plan within a given budget and timeline
- great listening skills
Those interested in participating must be available for weekly meetings for about six months. Some meetings will be with the task force and others will be with members of the congregation. This is a working task force and each member may have responsibilities between meetings. The plan is to have the process completed by next spring.
The board plans to review the list of interested people at the next meeting on September 14.
Thank you for your interest,
Pat Lynch, board representative to the task force
Join Us for Youth Group in September
We meet Sunday evenings from 6-8pm. Here’s what we have planned for this month:
September 5: NO YOUTH GROUP. Enjoy Shakespeare at the Park with your family.The show is playing at Centennial Park bandshell beginning at 7:30 p.m.
September 12: Please join us in the Youth Room for a discussion about social justice issues. Each youth is encouraged to bring one topic they feel strongly about or would like to explore. Pizza will be served.
September 19: Please join us in the Youth Room to learn about the art of Tarot Cards!
September 25-26: Please join us Saturday evening for the first Youth Group lock-in of the year. Don’t miss this night of movies, worship and fun!
Contact Erika Burnett, Youth Coordinator, at eburnett@firstuunashville.org if you have any questions.
Last Week to Sign Up for New Covenant Groups
Covenant grops are composed of five to ten people and a facilitator who meet twice a month to support each others spritual growth. We are forming new groups to start in September that will meet through May. You can sign up on church this Sunday, contact the church office or download the form on the church website. Please turn completed application in to the church office.
Matinee Idylls Returns on September 14, 1:30-3:30 p.m. in the FUUN Social Area
Eric Pasto-Crosby, a professional actor, will be our Matinee Idylls September 14 speaker. Eric will share some of his personal experiences in rehearsal, performance and especially in his role as “Actor-Combatant.”
Please join us at 1:30 p.m. in the FUUN social area. A light lunch will be served prior to the entertainment. Everyone is invited.
We Ought to Be in Pictures
We are excited to announce that we are going to create a new pictorial directory of our FUUN community. We’re working with Olan Mills on this project that offers lots of benefits to our church and to you, all at no cost to either. In fact, the church receives a small donation from Olan Mills for every family that participates. All we need is you!
Here are the benefits:
- Every participating family/household that selects a pose for the directory will receive a free directory and a complimentary 8×10 Custom Natural Portrait.
- You have your portrait made and make your selection of poses in one visit to the church (approximately 45 minutes).
- You have the opportunity to have additional poses done at the same time for your personal use with no sitting fee.
- You will have the opportunity to order additional portraits during your scheduled appointment time, but you won’t be pressured to do so. Portraits come with a 100% satisfaction guarantee.
- Olan Mills provides the opportunity to integrate the portraits into Shelby, our membership database, as well as an online directory.
- In addition to family portraits, we’ve asked Olan Mills to make individual portraits of each family member. That way we can choose whether or not to include children’s portraits in any online version of the directory.
Portraits are being taken from September 22-28. The easiest way to make an appointment is online at www.signup.olanmills.com, but sign-up sheets for certain days are available at the church as well. You can also call the office and we’ll make an appointment for you. The important thing is that you sign up as soon as possible.
Brochures with more information are available. If you have any questions, please call the office and we’ll do our best to answer them.
-Jennifer Orth
Administrator
Register NOW for Children’s Religious Education & Youth Group
Please go to the online registration form NOW to register your child or youth for preK-8th grade Sunday morning religious education classes and Sunday evening youth group.
Contact me if you have questions.
Blessings.
Marguerite Mills
Director of Lifespan Religious Education
615-383-5760 ext 304
Help Wanted: Adult Religious Education Volunteers
The adult religious education program is looking for volunteers to fill the following positions:
- Communications Officer: Duties include collecting information about upcoming classes, writing short blurbs and, occasionally, longer articles for the church newsletter and blog, and working with the communications committee to get relevant information about our programs out to the wider Nashville community.
- Operations Managers: We need someone to announce the evening’s programs during the Wednesday night fellowship dinner and to be on hand to help teachers set up. This person would need to be able to set up audio-visual equipment when it is needed and to make sure the lights are off and doors are locked at the end of the evening. We also need someone to fill the analogous position for Sunday mornings.
- Secretary: This is a light-duty position. Attend committee meetings, take minutes, and email them out to members.
- Teachers: We always need knowledgeable and enthusiastic teachers. If you are interested in sharing one of your passions, please contact us.
- Treasurer: Keep track of committee’s expenditures and assets.
For all positions listed, pay is minimal (nonexistent), but the benefits are endless. If you would like to be part of one of FUUN’s most exciting and growth-oriented programs, speak to a current committee member or email adultre@firstuunashville.org.