Hello dear readers.
I'm working on a sermon that is going to be about humor and religion and want suggestions as to who to quote from.
I do have some people picked out...a lot of the usual suspects; Twain, Swift, Colbert and Stewart. Now I'm looking for more on the religion side. Know of any good religious humorists? Or places to look for stuff on religion and humor?
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Friday, February 22, 2008
There Should Be No Daylight Savings Time
Hello dear readers.
I needed to know what day Daylight Savings Time starts this year and since it's not in any of the calendars I bought I had to look for it online.
Daylight Savings Time starts on March 9th. March 9th. And it doesn't end until November 1. Eight months (almost)
Does anybody else remember when DST started in April? Mid- to Late April at that? And why do we need it anyway? It doesn't save the energy that they say it does. Why is it in the summer instead of the winter, when you really do need to save sunlight? Why 8 months instead of 6 like it used to be?
As you can see, dear readers, I have no use for DST.
I needed to know what day Daylight Savings Time starts this year and since it's not in any of the calendars I bought I had to look for it online.
Daylight Savings Time starts on March 9th. March 9th. And it doesn't end until November 1. Eight months (almost)
Does anybody else remember when DST started in April? Mid- to Late April at that? And why do we need it anyway? It doesn't save the energy that they say it does. Why is it in the summer instead of the winter, when you really do need to save sunlight? Why 8 months instead of 6 like it used to be?
As you can see, dear readers, I have no use for DST.
Thursday, February 21, 2008
The Single Smartest Decision Made in the 2008 Campaign
Hello dear readers.
As you all may remember, I have said that I have done the only political post I plan on writing. I'm sticking to that. Just barely.
I've been reading some articles the last few days talking about about the different campaigns; how organized or disorganized they are, strengths and weaknesses, etc. I've found them quite interesting, but I've also noticed one thing that hasn't been mentioned.
So dear readers, here's my take on why one campaign is still in this race and not watching it from the sidelines.
The single smartest decision made so far in the 2008 campaign: Barack Obama's campaign is run from Chicago and not Washington.
Maybe there's something about the air out here.
As you all may remember, I have said that I have done the only political post I plan on writing. I'm sticking to that. Just barely.
I've been reading some articles the last few days talking about about the different campaigns; how organized or disorganized they are, strengths and weaknesses, etc. I've found them quite interesting, but I've also noticed one thing that hasn't been mentioned.
So dear readers, here's my take on why one campaign is still in this race and not watching it from the sidelines.
The single smartest decision made so far in the 2008 campaign: Barack Obama's campaign is run from Chicago and not Washington.
Maybe there's something about the air out here.
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Why I'm Still Writing On This
ChaliceChick asked me why I'm still writing on this. I hope this post will explain some.
I was raised in a very working class home and church was a big part of my life. We did lots of things for the church and traveled quite extensively because of it. I know that this is coloring my view of the whole registration/hotel issue and I don't apologize for that. This is more than about $15 for me.
I find it amazing that other comparably sized religious groups find ways to accomodate those of lesser means and yet we seem to keep having problems.
I know this is a really short explanation, but hopefully it will shed some light on me.
I was raised in a very working class home and church was a big part of my life. We did lots of things for the church and traveled quite extensively because of it. I know that this is coloring my view of the whole registration/hotel issue and I don't apologize for that. This is more than about $15 for me.
I find it amazing that other comparably sized religious groups find ways to accomodate those of lesser means and yet we seem to keep having problems.
I know this is a really short explanation, but hopefully it will shed some light on me.
Why Frontenac? or Class and District Assembly pt.2
oh my dear readers! I truly did not expect to start off a firestorm, but I might as well go with it.
Since ChaliceChick did some research on hotels in the area of the Hilton-Frontenac, I decided to do a little more research, both on that hotel and some others. But a little info first.
Last year, in Oak Brook, the rooms were in the $90s (I can't find a hotel receipt but do remember that much), but less than $100, at the Marriott. (I do find it interesting that we will be paying more in a suburb of St. Louis than we did in a suburb of Chicago)
In 2006, in downtown Madison, the rooms were $85.
In 2005, in Arlington Heights (another suburb of Chicago), the rooms were $74 at the Sheraton.
So I don't think it's irrational to ask this question: WHY FRONTENAC?
Here is a little info on the Hilton-Frontenac: it has 263 rooms and it's normal rate is $143.10. Yet if the district had chosen the Hilton at the St. Louis Airport, it would have picked a bigger hotel (395 rooms) and one with a lower rate ($89.00).
But even more than that......why choose Frontenac, which only has 1 choice, when you could have gone to the airport or Westport and had many?
Let's look at some more hotels at the airport.
The Renaissance has 393 rooms and a rate of $89.00. The Marriott has 601 rooms and a cost of $89.00. Both of these would have had ample meeting space. Then there are the smaller hotels if one needed/wanted to go elsewhere. And most are within walking distance
Then there's Westport (as you can see, I know a little about where hotels are clustered in St. Louis). The biggest hotel at Westport is the Sheraton. It has 2 hotels there with a combined number of rooms of 510 (300 in one and 210 in the other) and ample meeting space. There are also a number of hotels in/around Westport within walking distance of the Sheraton if people wanted to stay somewhere else for whatever reason.
So again.......WHY FRONTENAC?
Since ChaliceChick did some research on hotels in the area of the Hilton-Frontenac, I decided to do a little more research, both on that hotel and some others. But a little info first.
Last year, in Oak Brook, the rooms were in the $90s (I can't find a hotel receipt but do remember that much), but less than $100, at the Marriott. (I do find it interesting that we will be paying more in a suburb of St. Louis than we did in a suburb of Chicago)
In 2006, in downtown Madison, the rooms were $85.
In 2005, in Arlington Heights (another suburb of Chicago), the rooms were $74 at the Sheraton.
So I don't think it's irrational to ask this question: WHY FRONTENAC?
Here is a little info on the Hilton-Frontenac: it has 263 rooms and it's normal rate is $143.10. Yet if the district had chosen the Hilton at the St. Louis Airport, it would have picked a bigger hotel (395 rooms) and one with a lower rate ($89.00).
But even more than that......why choose Frontenac, which only has 1 choice, when you could have gone to the airport or Westport and had many?
Let's look at some more hotels at the airport.
The Renaissance has 393 rooms and a rate of $89.00. The Marriott has 601 rooms and a cost of $89.00. Both of these would have had ample meeting space. Then there are the smaller hotels if one needed/wanted to go elsewhere. And most are within walking distance
Then there's Westport (as you can see, I know a little about where hotels are clustered in St. Louis). The biggest hotel at Westport is the Sheraton. It has 2 hotels there with a combined number of rooms of 510 (300 in one and 210 in the other) and ample meeting space. There are also a number of hotels in/around Westport within walking distance of the Sheraton if people wanted to stay somewhere else for whatever reason.
So again.......WHY FRONTENAC?
Monday, February 18, 2008
Class and District Assembly, or What I'm Asking For pt.2
Well dear readers I'm having so much fun being in a cranky mood I think I'll stay that way.
I decided to look up a few things about where the CMwD assembly is going to be. I'm not thrilled. So here's the next thing I'm asking for.
CAN WE NOT HAVE DISTRICT ASSEMBLY IN THE MOST EXPENSIVE SUBURBS??????
This year the assembly is in Frontenac, a ritzy suburb of St. Louis. Last year the assembly was in Oak Brook, one of the ritzy suburbs of Chicago. Not only do these suburbs have class issues, these suburbs also have racial issues. Why are we picking places like these? Aren't there hotels that fit the district's requirements that are in places other than Frontenac and Oak Brook? Or are we really trying to send subliminal messages to those in lower socio-economic classes and to people of color that we don't really want you?
I decided to look up a few things about where the CMwD assembly is going to be. I'm not thrilled. So here's the next thing I'm asking for.
CAN WE NOT HAVE DISTRICT ASSEMBLY IN THE MOST EXPENSIVE SUBURBS??????
This year the assembly is in Frontenac, a ritzy suburb of St. Louis. Last year the assembly was in Oak Brook, one of the ritzy suburbs of Chicago. Not only do these suburbs have class issues, these suburbs also have racial issues. Why are we picking places like these? Aren't there hotels that fit the district's requirements that are in places other than Frontenac and Oak Brook? Or are we really trying to send subliminal messages to those in lower socio-economic classes and to people of color that we don't really want you?
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Some People We Want Are On A Fixed Income, or What I'm Asking For
Hello dear readers.
Ogre asks me what I'm looking for when I'm talking about things related to District Assembly. I think that's a legitimate question and one that should be it's own post instead of a comment on the last post.
Ok....here's what I'm asking for. If you'll read my post "Sleeping Arrangements", you'll see that I'm asking that there be a lower cost alternative to the ritzy hotels that we use for the annual meeting. That is the fixed cost. And I know that it might just be the way I was raised, but when the "special" room rate is $105+tax, then we're talking about the only people who can afford that are in a different tax bracket (or have expense accounts). Unless there are 4 people in a room, that is a high cost for a church meeting.
What I'm asking for is the acknowledgement that there are people in our churches who want to be involved who are in fixed incomes, and try to make some accomodations for that. All the great religions ask us to remember the least of these. Doesn't seem to be much rememberance of that in UU circles.
As for the students, it still goes back to the fixed costs of the hotel room and transportation, as you can always bring your own food and food costs are mutable. But that is still $105+tax for 2 nights. If there were a lower cost alternative, then maybe there would be greater participation by people of all socio-economic classes in the work of our districts and association.
That's what I'm asking for.
Ogre asks me what I'm looking for when I'm talking about things related to District Assembly. I think that's a legitimate question and one that should be it's own post instead of a comment on the last post.
Ok....here's what I'm asking for. If you'll read my post "Sleeping Arrangements", you'll see that I'm asking that there be a lower cost alternative to the ritzy hotels that we use for the annual meeting. That is the fixed cost. And I know that it might just be the way I was raised, but when the "special" room rate is $105+tax, then we're talking about the only people who can afford that are in a different tax bracket (or have expense accounts). Unless there are 4 people in a room, that is a high cost for a church meeting.
What I'm asking for is the acknowledgement that there are people in our churches who want to be involved who are in fixed incomes, and try to make some accomodations for that. All the great religions ask us to remember the least of these. Doesn't seem to be much rememberance of that in UU circles.
As for the students, it still goes back to the fixed costs of the hotel room and transportation, as you can always bring your own food and food costs are mutable. But that is still $105+tax for 2 nights. If there were a lower cost alternative, then maybe there would be greater participation by people of all socio-economic classes in the work of our districts and association.
That's what I'm asking for.
Yet Another Thing About District Assembly
I seem to be having problems with both GA and District Assembly this year. Must be going through a cranky phase.
Anyway, dear readers, I went through the brochure for the CMwD meeting again and saw that there is a Young Adult/Full-Time Student rate of $45. But guess what, dear friends; your meals are not included and you still have to pay for your room.
So not only do you still have to pay for a room, pay to get to St. Louis and pay $45 registration, you have to pay for ALL your food. So I guess the District is telling you to bring your own or starve.
Ain't being a UU grand?????
Anyway, dear readers, I went through the brochure for the CMwD meeting again and saw that there is a Young Adult/Full-Time Student rate of $45. But guess what, dear friends; your meals are not included and you still have to pay for your room.
So not only do you still have to pay for a room, pay to get to St. Louis and pay $45 registration, you have to pay for ALL your food. So I guess the District is telling you to bring your own or starve.
Ain't being a UU grand?????
Sleeping Arrangements At District Assembly
Well hello again dear readers.
Steve Caldwell brings up the idea of using local churches as places for people to sleep during District meetings as a way to cut down costs.
I'm all for options, and that is one, but I must be honest and say that my preference is a bed. I just think we ought to be able to find less expensive beds, be able to cut the registration fee and still have a good meeting.
Is there any way that there could be alternative options as far as hotels go? Have the ritzy hotel and have a Days Inn as the other option?
When are we going to acknowledge that the best way to get people to participate is to not have too many financial obstacles in their way?
Steve Caldwell brings up the idea of using local churches as places for people to sleep during District meetings as a way to cut down costs.
I'm all for options, and that is one, but I must be honest and say that my preference is a bed. I just think we ought to be able to find less expensive beds, be able to cut the registration fee and still have a good meeting.
Is there any way that there could be alternative options as far as hotels go? Have the ritzy hotel and have a Days Inn as the other option?
When are we going to acknowledge that the best way to get people to participate is to not have too many financial obstacles in their way?
Saturday, February 16, 2008
Even More On The District Meeting
Hello again my dear readers.
H Sofia reminded me that I had not included the price of meals into my analysis of the upcoming CMwD annual meeting. And I must thank her for that.
Lunch on Saturday and breakfast on Sunday seem to be the only meals included. But where does that leave all us hungry souls on Friday when we arrive in St. Louis? Up ---- creek it looks like to me. So that means one must add something to our $621.14 total for a meal on Friday. Let's assume that you can get a meal for $15-$20/person. (might be pushing it there, as I don't know if there are any restaurants around the hotel and you know the price of a hotel restaurant is going to be more than that) So the price of dinner on Friday will be anywhere between $35 and $50 depending on taxes and tips.
Let's add it up again friends. $621.14+$35=$656.14. Or it could be $621.14+$50=$671.14.
So that means a party of two can do District Assembly for the low, low price of $700. (almost)
And yet we talk about wanting to grow. Growth and expansion of representation doesn't happen when it costs $700 do be a part of things.
H Sofia reminded me that I had not included the price of meals into my analysis of the upcoming CMwD annual meeting. And I must thank her for that.
Lunch on Saturday and breakfast on Sunday seem to be the only meals included. But where does that leave all us hungry souls on Friday when we arrive in St. Louis? Up ---- creek it looks like to me. So that means one must add something to our $621.14 total for a meal on Friday. Let's assume that you can get a meal for $15-$20/person. (might be pushing it there, as I don't know if there are any restaurants around the hotel and you know the price of a hotel restaurant is going to be more than that) So the price of dinner on Friday will be anywhere between $35 and $50 depending on taxes and tips.
Let's add it up again friends. $621.14+$35=$656.14. Or it could be $621.14+$50=$671.14.
So that means a party of two can do District Assembly for the low, low price of $700. (almost)
And yet we talk about wanting to grow. Growth and expansion of representation doesn't happen when it costs $700 do be a part of things.
It's District Meeting Time
Hello dear readers.
I'm looking over the brochure for the Central Midwest District annual meeting and can't help but think about how, in many ways, hypocritical we are.
Registration for the meeting is $155 for a full-time adult. This doesn't count dinner on Saturday evening, which is $35. So, before adding in the price of the hotel room, the price is $190 per adult. Now let's add in the hotel room. The special price for our meeting is $105/night. If you are going to stay both nights (since our meeting runs Fri-Sun), that comes to $210+taxes (which are 14.83%). That total is $241.14. Let's imagine that a couple wants to come to the meeting. Let's add it up, shall we. $155x2=$310. Add in the price of a room which will be $241.14. Add in the banquet at $35/person for a total of $70. The grand total for 3 days at a UU meeting will be $621.14.
$621.14?!?!?!?!?!?
This total, my friends, doesn't even include the cost of getting to St. Louis for those of us who are not locals.
$621.14
And yet we seem to talk a lot about trying to include as many UUs in the process as possible. Why don't we quit telling that tall tale. If we wanted more people involved, we would find a way to do this less expensively.
I know......if you volunteer for two hours the registration gets reduced to $115. Even if both people in my scenario above volunteer, the price is STILL $541.14+expense of getting to St. Louis.
As much as we don't want to talk about it, we don't want you if you can't afford to be one of us.
(and yes, dear readers, I have the same complaint about GA)
I'm looking over the brochure for the Central Midwest District annual meeting and can't help but think about how, in many ways, hypocritical we are.
Registration for the meeting is $155 for a full-time adult. This doesn't count dinner on Saturday evening, which is $35. So, before adding in the price of the hotel room, the price is $190 per adult. Now let's add in the hotel room. The special price for our meeting is $105/night. If you are going to stay both nights (since our meeting runs Fri-Sun), that comes to $210+taxes (which are 14.83%). That total is $241.14. Let's imagine that a couple wants to come to the meeting. Let's add it up, shall we. $155x2=$310. Add in the price of a room which will be $241.14. Add in the banquet at $35/person for a total of $70. The grand total for 3 days at a UU meeting will be $621.14.
$621.14?!?!?!?!?!?
This total, my friends, doesn't even include the cost of getting to St. Louis for those of us who are not locals.
$621.14
And yet we seem to talk a lot about trying to include as many UUs in the process as possible. Why don't we quit telling that tall tale. If we wanted more people involved, we would find a way to do this less expensively.
I know......if you volunteer for two hours the registration gets reduced to $115. Even if both people in my scenario above volunteer, the price is STILL $541.14+expense of getting to St. Louis.
As much as we don't want to talk about it, we don't want you if you can't afford to be one of us.
(and yes, dear readers, I have the same complaint about GA)
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Birthday Thoughts.....and More Thoughts On General Assembly
Hello dear readers.
Yes, your trusty servant shares her birthday with Honest Abe and Charles Darwin. I must say that that's hard to live up to.
Anyway.....a couple of thoughts that went through my mind as I was walking about in the bad weather here today......
-Why was Smokey Robinson and the Miracles' "My Momma Told Me" running through my head?
-Weather really does change one's mood
But on to the GA stuff........
I'm trying to understand those who say that there's nobody at fault here. I'm sorry friends but somebody must be responsible for this mess. (I'm only talking about on the UUA side, this is NOT about Homeland Security)
I don't know how many of you remember this little bit of news.....but.....the GA Planning Committee went to the UUA Board sometime in 2007 and asked if it would be ok to move the 2010 GA, which is set for the Twin Cities, to another city if their labor issues were not resolved.
(long story....but my understanding is that they have been resolved)
I bring this up only to ask the following question.....since the Planning Committee was given assurances that the security checks would be gone, when they saw that they weren't (in 2005 or 2006), why did they not do the same thing they did with regards to the 2010 GA? The Planning Committee could have gone to Board and asked for the exact same thing. And, if they had done it early enough, they could have gotten out of this mess and moved GA to a different city.
This, my dear readers, is why I believe somebody must be responsible for this situation. And let me state for the record that I don't blame or fault the GA Staff; this is not their mess. They have to live with it just like those of you who will be going to GA.
Yes, your trusty servant shares her birthday with Honest Abe and Charles Darwin. I must say that that's hard to live up to.
Anyway.....a couple of thoughts that went through my mind as I was walking about in the bad weather here today......
-Why was Smokey Robinson and the Miracles' "My Momma Told Me" running through my head?
-Weather really does change one's mood
But on to the GA stuff........
I'm trying to understand those who say that there's nobody at fault here. I'm sorry friends but somebody must be responsible for this mess. (I'm only talking about on the UUA side, this is NOT about Homeland Security)
I don't know how many of you remember this little bit of news.....but.....the GA Planning Committee went to the UUA Board sometime in 2007 and asked if it would be ok to move the 2010 GA, which is set for the Twin Cities, to another city if their labor issues were not resolved.
(long story....but my understanding is that they have been resolved)
I bring this up only to ask the following question.....since the Planning Committee was given assurances that the security checks would be gone, when they saw that they weren't (in 2005 or 2006), why did they not do the same thing they did with regards to the 2010 GA? The Planning Committee could have gone to Board and asked for the exact same thing. And, if they had done it early enough, they could have gotten out of this mess and moved GA to a different city.
This, my dear readers, is why I believe somebody must be responsible for this situation. And let me state for the record that I don't blame or fault the GA Staff; this is not their mess. They have to live with it just like those of you who will be going to GA.
Saturday, February 9, 2008
Real ID and General Assembly pt.3
Hello dear readers.
As many of you can tell by now, my mind gets twisted around things and won't let them go. This whole showing ID to get into the convention center is one of those things.
If you live in a state that cannot/does not comply with the Real ID law (there are 5 that have said they will not comply and 15 that might not be able to comply), then come May 11, you are going to have problems entering federal buildings, not to mention getting on a plane.
With the convention center being in a federal security zone, I have no doubt that Real ID is going to be enforced.
I doubt that any members of the GA Planning Committee read this blog. If by chance any do, I beg you to find out what the implications of Real ID are going to be on the convention center and get that out to the wider UU community fast.
As for those of you who are planning to go to GA, make sure your Passport is in order. And if you need an updated one, jump on it. It takes 4-6 weeks for you to receive it once you've turned in everything you have to turn in, so that means you have only a few more weeks to work it out.
As many of you can tell by now, my mind gets twisted around things and won't let them go. This whole showing ID to get into the convention center is one of those things.
If you live in a state that cannot/does not comply with the Real ID law (there are 5 that have said they will not comply and 15 that might not be able to comply), then come May 11, you are going to have problems entering federal buildings, not to mention getting on a plane.
With the convention center being in a federal security zone, I have no doubt that Real ID is going to be enforced.
I doubt that any members of the GA Planning Committee read this blog. If by chance any do, I beg you to find out what the implications of Real ID are going to be on the convention center and get that out to the wider UU community fast.
As for those of you who are planning to go to GA, make sure your Passport is in order. And if you need an updated one, jump on it. It takes 4-6 weeks for you to receive it once you've turned in everything you have to turn in, so that means you have only a few more weeks to work it out.
Friday, February 8, 2008
Bring Your Passport or, Real ID and General Assembly pt.2
Hello dear readers.
Big thanks to Joel Monka for the link to the Real ID pages. It just shows how confusing this really is.
But now we can talk about economic issues related to General Assembly. Joel, in his response to my question, says that he is going to bring his Passport just in case. While I think that is a good idea, that brings up this point. There are some of our fellow UUs who don't have Passports.
What's a Passport running these days? $100 or so???
So on top of all the other costs associated with GA, some of our fellow UUs might have to pop an extra $100 or so just so they can enter the convention center. Interesting.
Talk amongst yourselves.
Big thanks to Joel Monka for the link to the Real ID pages. It just shows how confusing this really is.
But now we can talk about economic issues related to General Assembly. Joel, in his response to my question, says that he is going to bring his Passport just in case. While I think that is a good idea, that brings up this point. There are some of our fellow UUs who don't have Passports.
What's a Passport running these days? $100 or so???
So on top of all the other costs associated with GA, some of our fellow UUs might have to pop an extra $100 or so just so they can enter the convention center. Interesting.
Talk amongst yourselves.
Thursday, February 7, 2008
Real ID and General Assembly
Hello dear readers.
I have a question for those of you in the know: if one lives in a state that does not/cannot comply with the Real ID law.....how will this affect one's ability to enter the convention center in Ft. Lauderdale?
I have a question for those of you in the know: if one lives in a state that does not/cannot comply with the Real ID law.....how will this affect one's ability to enter the convention center in Ft. Lauderdale?
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Dewey Defeats Truman
Hello dear readers.
To be honest with you, I didn't watch anything about the "Super Tuesday" vote (I was much more inerested in watching House), so I didn't know anything about the results until about an hour ago.
The only thing I can think of is: Dewey Defeats Truman
It has been reported that HRC sent out a press release saying that it was a big night for her in Missouri (after the AP called it for her)only to have the vote go the other way. While I do blame the media for calling states too early, everyone should learn from 1948 and never say anything before all the votes are in.
But then.....how would cable news fill 23 hours of the day??????
To be honest with you, I didn't watch anything about the "Super Tuesday" vote (I was much more inerested in watching House), so I didn't know anything about the results until about an hour ago.
The only thing I can think of is: Dewey Defeats Truman
It has been reported that HRC sent out a press release saying that it was a big night for her in Missouri (after the AP called it for her)only to have the vote go the other way. While I do blame the media for calling states too early, everyone should learn from 1948 and never say anything before all the votes are in.
But then.....how would cable news fill 23 hours of the day??????
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Why UUs Need Lent
Hello dear readers. No rant today.
Everyday Unitarian on their blog asks whether or not UUs need Lent and comes down on the side of no we don't, but it's good nonetheless. Well dear readers, I come down on the other side.
UUs NEED Lent.
There are not many times during a year that UUs are asked to SACRIFICE anything, if they're asked to at all. Lent is all about sacrifice and what that sacrifice means. And I think that's a lost virtue and one that UUs need to recover.
In the 20th century U/U/UU thing of running away from anything that remotely smacked of Christianity, too many of the old virtues got thrown away. Sacrifice, service, duty, honor, commitment.....in the 19th century Unitarian and Universalist world all these words had meaning. They were considered good things. It is my hope that they will return.
Everyday Unitarian on their blog asks whether or not UUs need Lent and comes down on the side of no we don't, but it's good nonetheless. Well dear readers, I come down on the other side.
UUs NEED Lent.
There are not many times during a year that UUs are asked to SACRIFICE anything, if they're asked to at all. Lent is all about sacrifice and what that sacrifice means. And I think that's a lost virtue and one that UUs need to recover.
In the 20th century U/U/UU thing of running away from anything that remotely smacked of Christianity, too many of the old virtues got thrown away. Sacrifice, service, duty, honor, commitment.....in the 19th century Unitarian and Universalist world all these words had meaning. They were considered good things. It is my hope that they will return.
Monday, February 4, 2008
Youth Are Nice, They Just Don't Grow A Church
In rant mode, it comes across that I am against youth programming. Or at the very least I am making this an either/or situation. That was not my intention.
Let me state this plainly dear readers. I am not against children/youth and their programming.
I say(and continue to believe) that if a church wants to GROW, they must have a substantive ADULT program. No matter what size their children/youth program, a church does not GROW through said children or youth. They GROW through ADULTS.
This my dear readers is my rant.....there seems to be a backwardness about this that infuriates me. UUs run around in circles talking about wanting to grow then do everything that is antithetical to that growth.
But I shall shut up now before I start another rant.
Let me state this plainly dear readers. I am not against children/youth and their programming.
I say(and continue to believe) that if a church wants to GROW, they must have a substantive ADULT program. No matter what size their children/youth program, a church does not GROW through said children or youth. They GROW through ADULTS.
This my dear readers is my rant.....there seems to be a backwardness about this that infuriates me. UUs run around in circles talking about wanting to grow then do everything that is antithetical to that growth.
But I shall shut up now before I start another rant.
Growth Happens Through ADULT Programming, NOT Youth Programs
Hello dear readers.
I looked at the Winter 2008 issue of Interconnections today and the front page article is about growth through youth programs. So friends, I'm going to go into rant mode again.
Growth happens through ADULT PROGRAMMING, not Youth programs.
I know that there must be somebody out there who reads the studies on church growth. I know there is somebody out there who knows that the growth happens when there is substantive programs for adults (whether they have youth to bring or not).
I know that there has to be somebody out in UU-land who knows that all of this talk of children/youth and family programs leaves out those who are NEITHER. Where is the programming for them?
Singles ministry anyone? How about elder ministry? Empty-nesters? Partnered with no children? Don't these people exist in our churches? Where is the outreach to them?
Alright.....rant's over. Talk amongst yourselves.
I looked at the Winter 2008 issue of Interconnections today and the front page article is about growth through youth programs. So friends, I'm going to go into rant mode again.
Growth happens through ADULT PROGRAMMING, not Youth programs.
I know that there must be somebody out there who reads the studies on church growth. I know there is somebody out there who knows that the growth happens when there is substantive programs for adults (whether they have youth to bring or not).
I know that there has to be somebody out in UU-land who knows that all of this talk of children/youth and family programs leaves out those who are NEITHER. Where is the programming for them?
Singles ministry anyone? How about elder ministry? Empty-nesters? Partnered with no children? Don't these people exist in our churches? Where is the outreach to them?
Alright.....rant's over. Talk amongst yourselves.
Friday, February 1, 2008
Stop Treating Your Church Like the Sierra Club, or Why Tithing Matters pt.2
Oh my dear readers! I was going through UUpdates a few minutes ago and came across this:
Let me suggest a modest proposal which, I believe, can help solve the financial problems of the Unitarian Church of (blank). The proposal is this: take this congregation off of your “charity” list! Do I have your attention yet? If not, I beg you! Remove this congregation from the list of causes and services you support, it doesn’t belong there.
Amen and Hallelu to that!!!!!
Your church is NOT the Sierra Club. (I'm not picking on the Sierra Club, so no comments along that line please) Your church SHOULD hold a different place in your life and deserves to be seen that way.
It's nice to see more UUs talking like this. Gives me hope that one day UUs will actually ASK people to give more than 5% to their church.
Bless you dear minister at the Unitarian Church of (blank). I hope you get everyone in your congregation's attention.
Let me suggest a modest proposal which, I believe, can help solve the financial problems of the Unitarian Church of (blank). The proposal is this: take this congregation off of your “charity” list! Do I have your attention yet? If not, I beg you! Remove this congregation from the list of causes and services you support, it doesn’t belong there.
Amen and Hallelu to that!!!!!
Your church is NOT the Sierra Club. (I'm not picking on the Sierra Club, so no comments along that line please) Your church SHOULD hold a different place in your life and deserves to be seen that way.
It's nice to see more UUs talking like this. Gives me hope that one day UUs will actually ASK people to give more than 5% to their church.
Bless you dear minister at the Unitarian Church of (blank). I hope you get everyone in your congregation's attention.
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