Belly Dance Beautiful: Release Your Inner Goddess
First and third Mondays: July 5, July 19, August 2, August 16
7 p.m. - 8 p.m. in the sanctuary
Fee: $15 for each class ($5 is a donation to the church)
What to Expect: A friendly and empowering class embarking on a journey into self-discovery, to build confidence and self worth through the art of the dance because every woman is a goddess in her own skin and every woman is beautiful.
What to Wear: Belly Dance is traditionally performed barefoot. Wear loose fitting clothing, yoga pants or skirts that allow you to have full range of movement and make you feel beautiful.
About the teacher: Kennedy first discovered the art of belly dance in 2004 while she began taking lessons in intuitive belly dance. She has also studied more formalized styles.
This class is hosted by Queen of Heaven Circle but is open to anyone interested in belly dancing. For more information or to register, email contactus@queenofheavencircle.org.
Munch & Gab Potluck
On the third Sunday of the month, 12:15 p.m. in the sanctuary
Potluck Themes:
July 18: Red, White & Blue Foods.
August 15: Summer Seafood.
These potluck themes are just suggestions. Anything you bring to share will be appreciated. Too busy to cook this time? Join us anyway. There is always plenty of food. Coffee and tea provided.
Stay after the service to share a meal and discuss the sermon, explore the topic of the day, catch up with friends, and make new ones!. For more information, contact Debbie Ellis.
Work Day at Church
on the first Saturday, July 3 and August 7 from 8 a.m. to noon, church buildngs & grounds.
Donuts for early birds!
Work Saturday volunteers always have many jobs to select from-easy and challenging- so you can find one to suit your time or skills. And while you work, you'll enjoy the company and conversations of other UUs.
Outside, trimming shrubs and weeding flower beds. Inside, the routine housecleaning in both buildings: sweeping floors, swabbing bathrooms, replacing burned out light bulbs, tidying cupboards, cleaning the refrigerator, emptying watecans, and sorting out the clutter.
Volunteer as long as you choose, as frequently as you are able, but please help if you can.
If you notice other maintenance issues, contact building and grounds chair, Bill Pfoutz.
Public Labyrinth Walk
Free and open on the second Sunday, 1 p.m. - 3 p.m. Download Brochure
July 11 & August 8
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
Summer schedule changes
No meeting in July.
Next meeting: Wednesday, August 4, 6 p.m. outside
Potluck Picnic & Planning. Bring your ideas for future sessions.
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
July 14: Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra's Don Quixote, translated by Edith Grossman. This 2004 translation brings to contemporary life the adventures of the knight-errant Don Quixote of La Mancha and faithful squire Sancho Panza.
August 11: Kathryn Stockett's The Help personalizes the Civil Rights movement through the lives of two black maids and an aspiring young white writer in early 1960s Mississippi.
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, July 23 & August 27, 8 p.m. Outside at the bonfire near the labyrinth.
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.
If you'd like to camp on site after the drum circle, space is available for a $15 donation to the church.
The drum circle will be 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 when he purchased his first drum.
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.
Friday Night Social
The Friday Night Socials are on hiatus until someone volunteers to replace Dodie and Howard Ruskie as coordinators. If you're willing to choose movies or other activities, open and close the building, and generally organize the event, tell a board member.
Queen of Heaven Circle Celebration
Meets on the third Saturday, outside or in the sanctuary
July 17: The Mysterion: Creating Harmonious Synergy.
August 21: Lughnassad.
For more information on what to bring and how to participate in these rituals, visit www.queenofheavencircle.org.
As with all Queen of Heaven Circle celebrations, participants are asked to bring canned food donations for the church's food bank collection and a dish to share at the QOHC meal.
The Queen of Heaven Circle is an earth-based spirituality group, which meets monthly at UUCH. Although the group's name is feminine, men are welcome. For more information, visit www.queenofheavencircle.org.
Faith in Action Committee
Next meeting: Sunday, August 22
12:15 p.m. to 1 p.m. in the Martin House
FIA volunteer positions open: assistant committee chair, calendar keeper, and project coordinators for FIA Fair, REACH lunches, school supply campaign, mitten tree, food drive; and FIA liaison to Community Gardens. For more information, contact Fanny Crawford.
Full-Ton Food Drive. The Queen of Heaven Circle and the UUCH Faith In Action Committee are working together to strike out hunger one pound at a time! Drop off your non-perishable contributions for the Food Resources Warehouse in the containers in the sanctuary foyer. Food Resources is grateful for all donations but especially needs canned fruits, peanut butter and cereal. If you'd like to contribute cash instead, one dollar is equivalent to four pounds.
As of mid-June, our 2009-10 food drive was within 100 pounds of our one ton target. In July, we'll start on our next ton of donations.
-Fanny Crawford, Faith in Action Chair
Western Maryland Vegetarian Life and Whole Health Group
Summer Events: Independence Vegan Potluck & Antietam Concert - Saturday, July 3, 4:30 p.m. in Sharpsburg, MD
Summerfest Vegan Potluck - Sun., July 18, 3 p.m. in the UUCH sanctuary
Movie, Discussion & Raw Food Potluck - Sun., August 8, 3 p.m. Topic and location to be announced later
End of Summer Potluck & Campfire - Sat., August 28, 5 p.m. in Sharpsburg, MD
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.
Please bring a vegan dish containing no animal products (meat, egg, dairy or honey) to serve at least six to eight people. For recipe ideas, check out www.vegweb.com. If possible, bring a list of ingredients to help those with allergies or food sensitivities.
If possible, please bring along your own place setting (plate, bowl, cup and silverware), to ensure we have enough to go around without using disposable stuff.
A donation box will be provided. Though not required, donations are appreciated as a gesture of thanks to the church for allowing us to use the space.
For more information, contact Tara Petite (301-393-8874 or Tara@Petite.net) or sign-up on our MeetUp.com page, go to http://vegetarian.meetup.com/WestMDVeg/.
Green Sanctuary
Committee meets on the second Sunday, July 11 & August 8
12:15 p.m. in the Martin House
Those present at the June Green Sanctuary Committee discussed how they wished to proceed after the resignations of Janet and Gordon Bartels from the committee. All present wanted the Green Sanctuary program continue, but no one was willing to take on the responsibilities of heading the committee. The group agreed to continue meeting over the summer.
Anyone interested in the future of the Green Sanctuary Committee should plan on attending the July meeting where the group will try to decide on a committee chair or co-chairs. Janet and Gordon were asked to prepare a list of the things they have been doing as co-chairs and a list of "green groups" in the area.
The Green Sanctuary Committee is collecting unwanted CDs to use in making the driveway entrance more visible at night. Please give your CDs to Cynthia Cantrell.
Green Sanctuary is a UUA program that encourages congregations to practice eco-spirituality and live our seventh principle-respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part.
The UUCH Green Sanctuary Committee meets once a month to discuss topics of interest and plan programs that support a Green Sanctuary. Everyone is welcome.
Our church already has many programs that support this initiative including worship services and celebrations of the earth that enlighten us about caring for our environment; religious education that heightens our awareness of our environmental, social, and consumer responsibilities; programs that address environmental justice issues and encourage our involvement; and choices that promote sustainable living like purchasing fair trade products at church on Sunday.
July-August 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 Gift Cards ((Martins/Giant, Weis, and Food Lion)
Order due August 1 with delivery on August 15. For more information, contact Robin Chute.
Great Lake Scrip (many national retailers & restaurants)
Order due: August 1 with delivery Aug. 8
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.
Disclaimer: The Unitarian Universalist Church of Hagerstown encourages members to participate fully in congregational life. Members and friends sponsor numerous ancillary activities, such as those related to the environment, book clubs and other interest groups. Although UUCH allows members and friends to use its facilities for such activities, UUCH does not endorse particular activities. UUCH assumes no responsibility for activity participants.
