Online Oracle - August 2008

No summer doldrums here - plenty of activities, interesting guest speakers, and great lay-led services.  See what's going on at First Unitarian in August!

August 3  “Are You Your Brother's Keeper?”

A century ago Eugene V. Debs said, “I am opposed to the system of society in which we live because I am not satisfied to make myself comfortable knowing that there are thousands who suffer for the barest necessities of life.  We were taught that man's business on this earth was to look out for himself.  Thousands of years ago the question was asked, ‘Am I my brother's keeper?’  That has never yet been answered in a way that is satisfactory.  Yes, I am my brother's keeper.  I am under a moral obligation to him that is inspired by the higher duty I owe myself.” Join us as we explore the concept Debs posits using examples from the lives of fellow UUs and a look at the work of the Russell Home for Atypical Children.

This Sunday's service will include a special remembrance of the tragedy in Knoxville, Tennessee.  Join us as we pay tribute to the victims and explore a principle of our faith which can unite us us in such unfortunate times.

This service will be lead by Thomas Cook.

August 10  “A Unitarian Among the Christians”

The sources which inform our Unitarian Universalist Principles include Christian teachings which call us to respond to God’s love by loving our neighbor as ourselves.  I will examine in what ways the teachings from the Christian Scriptures are meaningful to me and can inform and inspire us individually and as a religion. 

This service will be led by Jay Wolin

August 17  “Likeness to God”

William Ellery Channing, minister and reformer, was one of the founders of the Unitarian church in this country.  This service will focus on Channing’s words, including an abridged version of his “Likeness to God” sermon.

This service will be led by Ken Lofgren, Worship Associate.


August 24 “Furthering Work on Anti-Racism”

This service will be led by Sophia Betancourt, Director of the Office of Racial & Ethnic Concerns of the UUA.


August 31 Welcome Rev. Jay Deacon as he leads our worship, beginning his ministry with us.

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Social Justice Tuesday Program

By popular demand, the Social Justice Committee is cutting its summer vacation short.  All members are invited to join us when we meet on Tuesday, August 19, 2008 at 7:00pm in the Hiett Library.  We will focus our discussion on the moral issues raised by the proposed Amendment to the Florida Constitution (Vote NO on 2) that would redefine marriage. We have invited Michael Vance, Chair of the Fairness For All Families (FFAF) steering Committee to address us and to inform us how we can best join the statewide effort to defeat this Amendment in November.  Time is of the essence. If you cannot attend this important  meeting please contact Joe DuRocher  or Jean Cawelti at This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it to get on the mailing list for future activities.

 - Joe DuRocher

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Transitions

Interim minister, the Rev. Jay Deacon, had a brief trip to Orlando in early July, during which he successfully found a place to live (thanks, Joan Erwin!), met staff and took a quick campus tour. Rev. Deacon will be meeting church members after his arrival August 15. The September 7th Water Service will mark his first official Sunday in the pulpit.

Church staff and committees will be examining priorities in energies and expenses as we begin a new fiscal year. Expect some changes in programs, paper usage and requests for volunteer support!  Stewardship of our Beloved Community will continue to be a topic of concern as we enter a year of economic uncertainty. Count on our congregation to be a stable and caring source of hope and strength in our community.

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From the President

“Home field advantage”. It meant that the Florida District had the largest group of General Assembly attendees – 450 Florida Unitarian Univeralists, proud to host 3000 guests. First Unitarian Church of Orlando was the biggest delegation in the Florida District in-gathering, and we looked and sounded great! Check us out at http://orlandouu.org/content/view/601/216/. Our t-shirts proudly identified us, with our beautiful chalice window, and we were easy to spot in the crowded room.

The t-shirts that members of the River of Grass congregation (Plantation, FL) wore caught my attention. Their shirts spoke to the spirit of our larger faith. There were 3 different styles, with large bold questions on the front. I found myself thinking, “How would First Unitarian answer those questions?”

GOT JOY? Yes we do! Singing and listening to music; grooving at the Sock Hop; laughing it up at the Vicar Snicker; welcoming babies and new members into our community; repainting Gore Hall; making new friends during Coffee Hour; hunting Easter eggs; sharing stone soup on Christmas Eve.

GOT LOVE? Absolutely! Helping members make it to church; providing gifts for kids at the Grove; respecting views other than our own; teaching and supervising children; supporting joys and concerns; running for trees; creating comfort quilts; sharing our collection plate; affirming and supporting a diverse group of people and their paths.

GOT HOPE? You know it! Witnessing for peace; imagining our future; welcoming an interim minister; gathering ideas and energy at GA and SUUSI; standing on the side of love; collaborating for justice; providing stewardship for the Earth.

We have some great stories to tell in answering these questions. During this period of interim ministry, you’ll be asked to share your stories – let others know how this faith home is transforming your life. You’ll be asked to share your dreams – tell us how you imagine we can continue transforming lives. Our Committee on Ministry will be working with the Board of Trustees and our interim minister to assure that we all have a chance to be part of this creative process. Together we’ll be defining our vision for our future - who we will be as a congregation - and establishing priorities for our time, talent, and treasures. Ultimately, we’ll be calling a settled minister to join us in the journey toward our vision, but this preparation experience is ours now.

I’m excited to be part of a congregation committed to creating MORE JOY, MORE LOVE, and MORE HOPE for our members and for the larger community. We are providing opportunities to make our faith come alive, transforming ourselves and our world.  This is the call of Unitarian Universalism!

Just a reminder: Collect your water and soil for the Water Service September 7, the Rev. Jay Deacon’s first official service. It will be a welcome for all to share.

This month’s words are JOY, LOVE and HOPE.

Kathy Homblette

President

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Come and Join Us in Religious Education! It's Fun!

Welcome back from your summer break!  Join us and register your children/youth for Children's Religious Education for this coming year 2008-2009.  This year we will focus on our Judeo-Christian Heritage which is one of the many sources of our living tradition.   Through age appropriate study of these two faith traditions and the stories that are so much a part of our western culture, our children and youth will deepen their understanding of  our own UU faith through a variety of exciting curriculum.

Come to our Religious Education Registration Celebration in the RE Assembly Room and courtyard on Sunday August 17th; we will continue to have registration fun the following Sunday, August 24th in Gore Hall before and after church services. Religious education classes will begin with an Ingathering on September 7th at 9:30am in the RE Assembly Room.

We still have Volunteer Opportunities for some teaching spots in elementary and middle school; if you are interested please contact Abbie Potter, LRE at: This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it    or call (407) 898-3621 ext. 3.

Our High School Yuuth Group has continued holding informal meetings throughout the summer after church with advisors Heather and Carie.  Starting in September, we will resume our formal yuuth group meetings for high school by the wonderful addition of two new advisors, Michelle and Mike, who will alternate weekly meetings with Heather and Carie.  

We will also begin a new Middle School Yuuth group which will meet after church on the first and third Sunday of each month.  Gladys is returning to yuuth group fun as a middle school advisor along with new advisors, James  and Kris.

Look for news in future Oracles on an innovative and exciting  Coming of Age program for 2008-2009!

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A NEW BANNER FOR A NEW TIME   

A new First Unitarian banner was unveiled at the General Assembly banner parade amongst hundreds of other congregational banners from all over the country.  By the time you read this the banner will also have represented First Unitarian at the SUUSI (Southeastern Unitarian Universalist Summer Institute) banner parade the last week in July.

A Very special vote of thanks to Nicki Drumb who designed the banner and Rachel Gardiner who used her influence and did the leg work to get it printed at very low cost. 

Look for the banner to be displayed at coffee hour sometime soon.  The new banner depicts our beloved chalice window with the words First Unitarian Church of Orlando across the top.  The banner is waterproof and there are several methods for displaying it.  First Unitarian committees and special interest groups will be proud to display it at any event.

A word about our old green felt banner that served us for over 25 years: The old banner has been retired as it is showing it's age with letters and gold paint falling off and evidence of a bug inhabitation.  We owe a debt of gratitude to it's creator,  Nancy Evans, who we believe made it sometime in the early 1980's.

- Dayle Steakley

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Adult RE

Sunday Mornings from 9:30 to 10:30 am in the Sharon Lee Hiett Library

Following-up on discussions started in July, the Covenant Group focusing on societal transformation will continue to meet during August.  Led by Jay Wolin and Dick Gilbert.

Spiritual Cinema is Back - August 27

Please join your hosts, Dave and Linda Shine, on Wednesday, August 27 from 6:30 to 9:00pm in the Sharon Lee Hiett Library for Spiritual Cinema.  This month's movie will be “The Truth About Jane” starring Stockard Channing and Ellen Muth as a mother and her fifteen-year-old daughter negotiating their tenuous relationship when the daughter acknowledges she is a lesbian.  This is a great film for all, but especially for teenagers and their parents.

Spiritual Cinema follows the covenant group model of a brief check-in, the showing of one or more movies, and a group discussion of each movie.  Held on the fourth Wednesday of each month, we strive to bring you movies that will make you think, make you feel, and make you grow.  If you have any questions, please email Dave and Linda at This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it .

Additional Adult RE events and other events of interest

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New Member Class Serves Up Bistro Con Brio!!!

The Spring 2008 New Member Class will be offering an exciting new opportunity for food and fun with Bistro Con Brio! - an intimate Italian Bistro dinner for ten held at a private home on October 18th. Great food, wonderful wine, exceptional service, relaxing music and incredible conversation awaits those who are lucky enough to win a spot to this exclusive dinner. A silent auction held during the month of September will determine the make-up of the dinner party, and all proceeds will be contributed towards providing childcare for church program events, so our families are free to join in all our campus activities.  Visit with us August 31st at Coffee Hour for a menu preview and more details on how you can be a part of this new event - Bistro Con Brio!

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Green Movie Nite is August 23rd!

Once a month in Gore Hall and the library, the Green Team brings you potluck fun and Earth Cinema selections for green fellowship and green education "lite!" Come just for some or come for it all on August 23rd!

•           5 PM THE MEET: Green Team Meeting (anyone welcome to sit in.)

•           6 PM THE EAT: Potluck in Gore Hall! Open to anyone.  $3 donation (for the recycling arrows!) to help keep us in potluck drinks and extra yummies welcome, but not required.

•           7 PM THE “TAKE A SEAT!” Movie in library ( limited to 20 seats) or BYO games, crafting and chat in Gore Hall for those not interested in that month's movie selection.

Earth Cinema selections in August:

“The True Cost of Food” (15 min)

In this humorous animated short, The Sierra Club wakes us up with the reality of what our food is really costing us.  Learn how we can make decisions in the grocery store that help lower not just the price of food we are buying, but the cost to our environment, our animals, and our farmers as well.

“How to Save the World” (56 min)

Can one man and one cow save the earth? Is it possible that instead of developing higher tech solutions to our farming problems, that we might see better results through an arcane method called biodynamic farming that uses cow dung buried in a horn for 6 months and our hands to spray our fields in a spiral motion? Not only is it possible, it is happening, and Peter Proctor is leading the way to a world-wide revolution in how we grow our food.

For movie listings through December, please see http://orlandouu.org/content/view/595/170/

~The Green Team

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The Alliance

A gentle reminder - due to limited storage space and volunteers, we request good condition clothes on hangers.  We can not accept electronics such as computers, keyboards, printers and scanners.

Our new 2008-2009 membership list is available. Dues are$10 and you can join anytime.

August 5   Board Meeting

August 12 Hedy Bass: Speaking on mentoring children of the incarcerated.

August 19 Making sandwiches for the homeless

August 26 Continuing Bazaar

- Susan Anastasio

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FUCO Needs Your Help!!!!!

Chances are, one of the first people you meet at FUCO every Sunday morning is one of our friendly Ushers or Greeters.  These dedicated men and women work to ensure that everyone, members and newcomers alike, see just how welcoming and friendly a place FUCO is.  Unfortunately, there are just not enough of us to go around.  That is where you come in.  Hey, you’re here on Sunday morning already.  You say hello to your fellow congregants.  You can tell guests what FUCO is about and what our Beloved Community means to you.  Why don't you just come a few minutes early one Sunday a month and do it on a more formal basis? 

Being and Usher or a Greeter is easy.  Greeters are in the foyer of the sanctuary and Gore Hall and welcome everyone as they enter our campus.  They encourage first time guests to fill out a guest registry form and hand out packets of information about the church.  Ushers are at the entrance to the sanctuary, greet people as they enter and pass out orders of service.  Ushers are also responsible for passing the collection basket during the service.  That's all there is to it.

If you are interested in performing either (or both) of these duties on a regular or occasional basis, please contact Dave Shine at This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it .  It's fun.  It's easy.  It's a great way to meet new people.  Please, help FUCO with this valuable service.

- Dave Shine

Usher/Greeter Coordinator

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Coffee Hour in August!

The Green Team serves our Beloved Community by "Coffee Hour coordinating" for the ongoing Sunday party!

Some important updates to the August 2008 schedule are:

•           August 3: Children's RE committee ties on the apron strings!  Donations in tip jar welcome to benefit Children's RE!

•           August 10: Playschool tempts us with delicious yummies. Donations welcome to benefit the Playschool!

•           August 17: Green Team keeps whipping up cupcakes and setting the sustainable table to earn a congregational membership to UU Ministry of Earth for First Unitarian! Donations welcome!

•           Aug 24: "By the People, For the People." The Beloved Community is invited to bring in their culinary creations for some UU Food joy! Green Team donates the volunteer energy to serve and clean up. Donations benefit the Coffee Hour fund!

•           Aug 30: Don't miss exciting Italian samplings from the new member class as they unveil their exciting class service project … "Bistro con Brio!" Donations in tip jar welcome to benefit their project.

Other “guests” at the ongoing party include the Alliance Continuing Bazaar and the Equal Exchange coffee every Sunday, and the Nora Staton book store on 2nd and 4th Sundays.

Be sure to check out the "Coffee Hour strip mall" set of tables to shop your upcoming social and volunteer opportunities. In late August, don't miss RE registration at coffee hour!

Bon Appetit!

Cat & Peter

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Covenant Group Corner

Getting out of the Pew

We always take about 1 minute during service to greet each other and our guests.  I am one of those people who usually gets up and jumps about to say hello to people, but it is never enough time to say more.  So I often wonder “who is that person over there?”   Do you ever wish once you leave the pews on Sunday mornings there was some way to get to know some of the people better?  If you answered yes to that question, then I have an answer for you. 

Covenant Groups are a great way to make deeper connections with people in the congregation. Covenant Groups meet once a month for approximately 2 hours.  We currently have groups that meet Monday, Wednesday, and Sunday Evenings as well as Sunday Morning. Each Covenant Group meeting starts with a check-in, to get to know what is going on in the life of the other members of the group. There is an opening reading, a topic is chosen, and everyone is encouraged to participate and share their thoughts.  It’s a great way to make connections with people.  If you are interested in joining a Covenant Group please contact Jay Wolin at This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it

Geographic Covenant Group Idea – North and South Side of Town.

In our goal to share the benefits of Covenant Groups, we would like to acknowledge the time it takes to travel downtown, high gas prices, and the geographic diversity of our members. If there is enough interest, we are considering two geographic Covenant Groups, one in the Longwood/Altamonte Springs area, and another in the Celebration/South Orlando area.  If you would be interested in joining such a group, please contact Jay.

- Jay Wolin

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How to Plug in on Green!

Get ready … the Green Team's themes for the 2008-2009 year are “Eco-Living" and "Eco-Spirituality!"  Lots of green education projects coming down the pipeline in fall.

We're still looking for eco-friendly Unitarians wanting to play on any projects in any capacity. Whatever the size of your help or volunteership, we welcome you and can find you a place.

3rd Sundays all year – Green Team Coffee Hours. Seeking cooks who want to help set the Sustainable Table for Coffee Hour just once or as many times as you feel like! Educate by doing – how do you express your eco-living dining choices? Eating organics? Eating fair trade? Eating vegetarian/vegan? Green minds want to know and want to sample your goodies! All you do is cook and bring it in! Tip jar benefits various Green Team projects all year.

Collection Bin. In the Gore Hall men's bathroom anteroom, Green Team bin is seeking egg cartons and plastic shopping bags for various projects all year long. Got any? Bring them in.

Green Team T-shirts. Yep, they are green. And they can be yours! They are coming soon in coffee hour!

Adult RE on Sundays. We're on second Sundays for green education and we are finalizing curriculum.  Have something you want to learn about in eco-living or eco-spirituality? Want the air time to teach what you know? Give us a holler and we'll try to get what interests you or hook you up!

Earth Cinema.  Screenings once a month with Green Team meeting and potluck on Saturday night. (See website for schedule.) All welcome!

Oct 11 - "The Ancestor's Feast. " Get a little taste of a pagan "eco-spirituality" dining experience while honoring your favorite Ancestor during Samhain time! In planning stages – we're seeking volunteers to cook, decorate, and help throw the feast!

~The Green Team ( This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it or This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it )

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BOOK SALE 

The Alliance and the Covenant Groups (with help from the Green Team and all of you)

                                           present the: 

                          GREEN ELEPHANT BOOK SALE

                               Reduce, Reuse, ReREAD!

Local Bookstore Closeout plus great donations:  Novels, Detective Stories, cookbooks, Self-Help, Theology, Gardening, History, Biography, and much more 

                      to benefit:

                      Howard Middle School Renaissance Program

                      Health Care Center for the Homeless

                      Greater Orlando Food Outreach

                      Second Harvest Food Bank

                      Farmworkers Association

                      and more

FRIDAY, AUGUST 15, 8am – 8pm  &  SATURDAY, AUGUST 16, 8am – 3pm

IN GORE HALL

Donate, Volunteer, BUY!  Questions: 407-678-2687, 407-330-3616

or This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it

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UUA TRUSTEE TIDBITS

A good UU friend suggested since I frequently travel and seem to be refreshed and renewed following being away from home, I write about the benefits of taking trips. So I offer thoughts, some mine, and some from others regarding what travel offers for my soul. Travel has given me an opportunity to relax and de-stress, and has decreased burnout. Travel is much more than walking among the monuments and ruins found around the world. It continues to be an opportunity to connect and discover what is best about the world. Travel has enriched my life; spread prosperity a bit, helped dissolve political barriers, promoted in some small way international good will, and has brought excitement and change to my life. Hopefully travel has religiously broadened my perspectives, erased boundaries I think I don’t have but probably do, and has encouraged diversity. Travel has opened me up to values and ways of living that are at once unfamiliar and illuminating.

Each travel experience is unique in itself, and a powerful engine of change. There are discoveries to be made, be they personal, cultural, geographical, or enriching knowledge of our world. Encountering persons of different cultures is exciting and has helped widen my horizons. I offer some quotes from fellow travelers, my favorite is the final one:

“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness” – Mark Twain

“One’s destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things.” – Henry Miller

“To my mind, the greatest reward and luxury of travel is to be able to experience everyday things as if for the first time, to be in a position in which almost nothing is so familiar that it is taken for granted.” – Bill Bryson

You may be asking where personal travel fits in to our UU congregational community, and how it relates to UUA Trustee work. May not, in the latter but what if all of us who have the good fortune to be able to visit places others cannot, shared our experiences with the children and youth in our congregations as part of the Religious Education program. We need great RE content in the summer, too. Even though the tempo shifts summer Sundays are a great time to organize activities for which there isn’t time during the rest of the church year. My experience in working with children as a teacher for many years found their curiosity always present for learning about children of different cultures and places. Having congregation members share travel experiences, with discussion and activities that relate to them might be a good way to structure the summer program.

No matter what your summer life may be I wish you well and hope you are finding time to relax in whatever mode you find enriching and desirable. I look forward to hearing from you at This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it with your thoughts and comments.

 - Joan Lund, August 2008

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