Annual Meeting, Sunday, May 20
Begins at 12:15 p.m. in the sanctuary
Everyone welcome although only eligible* members may vote.
Childcare provided during meeting. Potluck lunch following meeting.
According to our church by-laws, the annual meeting is to "review the past year and plan for the coming year."
Reports from committee chairs and officers on this year's activities will be available at the meeting, but the main business is the approval of the budget and the election of the board of trustees for Fiscal Year 2013 (which begins July 1, 2012) Additional nominations for board positions may be made from the floor at the annual meeting with the permission of the nominee.
*Members may vote at the annual meeting if they have signed the membership book 60 days or more before May 20.
Any member who can not attend the annual meeting may still vote in the election of the board of trustees, using the absentee ballot which will be mailed to eligible members before the annual meeting.
However, absentee ballots are only allowed for elections. Members must be present to vote on the budget or any other official business at a congregational meeting.
Potluck after the meeting!
Please bring food to share after the Annual Meeting. Beverages and place settings will be provided.
To help those with allergies and special diets, please label your food, especially if it contains animal products, shellfish, nuts, peppers, tomatoes, potatoes, or eggplant.
Church Work Days
Church work Saturdays for seasonal maintenance and other projects will be scheduled as needed and announced in the Sunday bulletin and through the UUCH Members Yahoo group emails. If you have questions or comments concerning our building or grounds, please contact building and grounds chair, Michael.
Crafting & Chatting Circle
Meets on the fourth Monday, (note date change because of Memorial Day)
4 p.m.- 6 p.m. in the Martin House
May 21 (note date change because of Memorial Day) & June 24, 4 p.m.- 6 p.m. in the Martin House
Knitters, crocheters, needle pointers, crafters of any type are invited to socialize while they work. Don’t craft? Then bring other table activities (correspondence, organizing photos, scrap booking, etc) or just come to chat.
Feel free to stay the entire two hours or come and go to fit your schedule.
For more information, contact Tamela Brocious .
Munch & Gab Potluck
May 20 (after the Annual Meeting)
June 17 after the service
On the third Sunday of the month, 12:15 p.m. in the sanctuary
Bring food to share and stay after the service to discuss the sermon, explore the topic of the day, or just socialize. An opportunity to share thoughts, catch up with friends, and make new ones! Coffee and tea provided.
To help those with allergies and special diets, please label your food, especially if it contains animal products, shellfish, nuts, peppers, tomatoes, potatoes, or eggplant.
Public Labyrinth Walk
Free and open on the second Sunday, 1pm to 3pm
Please encourage your friends to try walking meditation. Both the indoor Petite Chartres and the outdoor Cretan labyrinths are open for public walking on the second Sunday of each month. Of course, UUCH members and friends are invited to walk the outdoor labyrinth whenever they're at church.
The public is invited to try walking meditation in two different labyrinths, which are suitable for all ages.
The indoor labyrinth is a Petite Chartres pattern, a smaller version of the 12th century labyrinth on the floor of the Chartres Cathedral in France. The outdoor labyrinth is the older, Cretan pattern. Both labyrinths were created by church members.
Unlike a maze which is a puzzle with many possible choices, a labyrinth is a single path to walk on a winding way into the center and out again. Some people walk labyrinths regularly as a spiritual experience or moving prayer. Labyrinth walking can also help with relaxation, stress relief and even problem solving.
Today, labyrinths are often found in homes, hospitals, public gardens and most commonly, in churches. However, labyrinths are not unique to Christianity; they are part of many religious traditions. Some patterns even date back to prehistoric times.
For more information about labyrinths, talk with Diana Foley who's a Certified Labyrinth Facilitator through Veriditas, a California-based non-profit whose mission is spreading the practice of labyrinth-walking globally. The name Veriditas means green growing things and was taken from the works of medieval mystic and composer Hildegard von Bingen.
The organization's web site is www.veriditas.net.
If you enjoy walking our labyrinths, please become a Labyrinth Keeper.
Labyrinth Keepers will take turns setting up the monthly public labyrinth walks and sharing their enthusiasm with visitors; create new ways to enjoy and promote our labyrinths; and those who are able will also help maintain them. If you'd like to be a Labyrinth Keeper, contact Diana Foley.
Women’s Spirituality Group
Meets on the first Wednesday, 7 p.m. in the Martin House
May 2: Yoga as a spiritual practice
June 6: Social Justice as a spiritual practice
The Women’s Spirituality Group meetings are currently based on Everyday Spirituality Practices, edited by Scott Alexander (published by Skinner House in 1999), but you do not need the book to participate.
All women of UUCH are welcome and encouraged to attend the Women’s Spirituality Group. For more information, contact Donna Catling.
Book Discussion Group
Meets on the second Wednesday at 7 p.m. at Donna Catling's home
May 9: Willa Cather's The Song of the Lark.
What price must an artist pay for the pursuit of beauty? Cather explores this theme through opera singer Thea Kronborg, who must decide if the cost is too great.
June 13: Elizabeth Strout's Olive Kitteridge.
Winner of the 2009 Pulitzer Prize for fiction, the 13 linked short stories present a microcosm of a coastal Maine town and the heroine Olive Ketteridge, "the seventh grade math teacher that kids were scared of."
The UUCH Book Group welcomes all enthusiastic readers to its monthly meetings on the second Wednesday at Donna Catling’s home. Contact Donna for more information.
Community Drum Circle
meets on the Fourth Friday, weather permitting
7p.m. Outside at the bonfire near the labyrinth
May 25 & June 22
The drum circle will resume when the outside temperatures are warm enough. If you would like to be notified about the next drum circle, email Mike Mason and ask to be added to his drum circle contact list.
The circle is open to both experienced and beginning drummers of all ages. Bring a chair and your drums, rattles, shakers, bells, singing bowls, and other percussion instruments. Or just come and enjoy the music of the drums.
Admission is free but donations to the church will be appreciated.
The drum circle is led by Dave Schultz and Mike Mason. Dave has been drumming since 2002 and has taken African drumming workshops with Ken Crampton and Aasa Grayson from the Ivory Coast. Mike has been drumming since 2006.
The Community Drum Circle is a Queen of Heaven Circle event hosted by the Guardians of the Circle, but anyone interested in drumming is welcome.
Western Maryland Veg Life MeetUp Group
Regular potluck and social events
Whether you're just curious about vegetarianism or you're a veg veteran and wish you knew more vegetarians and vegans in the area, come share a great meal and expand your veg social circle! We are a supportive group where we can openly discuss dietary issues, environmental and health concerns, and social challenges. We welcome your input and ideas for future meetings.
For more information, contact Tara Petite (301-393-8874 or Tara@Petite.net) or sign-up on our website at http://www.westMDveg.org.
Gift Card Order Dates
When you order scrip (gift cards) through the church, you purchase the cards at face value; the church buys the cards at a discount and keeps the difference. Easy money for the church at no cost to you. Order forms are available in the pamphlet rack in the sanctuary foyer.
Grocery Store gift cards Martins/Giant, Weis, and Food Lion)
Order due March 4 with delivery at church on March 18
Order due April 1 with delivery at church on April 15
For more information, contact Robin Chute.
Great Lake Scrip (many national retailers & restaurants)
Next Great Lakes Scrip order will be May 20, 2012
Visit www.glscrip.com or see the order form in the pamphlet rack for a complete list of available cards. For more information, contact Courtenay Elder.
GLS gift cards are available from a huge assortment of retailers, restaurants hotels, gas stations, and on-line vendors Visit www.glscrip.com or see the order form in the pamphlet rack for a complete list of available cards. For more information, contact Courtenay Elder.
